Effects of care bundles on lactation of mothers of preterm infants

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of care bundles on the lactation of mothers of preterm infants. Methods From January to June 2015, postpartum women who had preterm deliveries in First Maternity and Infant Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University with the neonates hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit were enrolled in this study. They were randomly divided into intervention group (n=25) receiving bundle care (assist the mothers to determine lactation target; pump/express breastmilk within six hours after birth and keep a lactation diary to record the times and volume of pumped/expressed milk) and control group (n=22) given normal mammary guidance only. The time of the first pumped/expressed milk, the times for pumping/expressing milk a day, the total milk volume per day and rate of breastfeeding were compared between the two groups. Statistical analyses were conducted using two independent samples t-test, Chi-square test and nonparametric test. Results The initial time of pumped/expressed milk of the intervention group was (6.1±3.4) h after delivery, significantly earlier than the control group [(10.7±9.3) h](t=-2.301, P=0.026). The times for pumping/expressing milk per day were significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd day after delivery [(4.2±2.2) vs (3.0±1.6); (6.2±1.1) vs (4.7±1.9); and (7.1±1.9) vs (5.9±1.9) times, respectively] (t=2.083, 2.564 and 2.194, all P<0.05). From the second postpartum day, the milk volume of the intervention group was more than the control group [M(range) were 10.0(25.0) vs 2.0(5.0) ml] (Z=-2.879, P=0.005); and on the 21st day, the milk volume of the intervention mothers reached 800.0(295.0) ml, still higher than the control group [300.0(155.0) ml] (Z=-3.179, P=0.001). The primarily breastfeeding (adding formula milk ≤2 times a day) rate in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group on the 42nd postpartum day [68% (17/25) vs 41% (9/22), χ2=5.874, P=0.045]. Conclusion The care bundles on lactation can improve the lactation of the mothers of preterm infants. Key words: Lactation disorders; Breast feeding; Milk ejection; Infant, premature; Maternal-child nursing