Impact of Group Prenatal Care Support on Breastfeeding Initiation Rates and Other Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes

Pau Nicolau,Assumpcio Sala,Paula Maso,Emerita Garcia,Silvia Agramunt,Susana Rodriguez,Antonio Paya,Mar Vernet-Tomas

doi:10.26502/ogr.4560007

Abstract

Group prenatal care support has been studied in order to increase maternal and neonatal benefits, such as breastfeeding initiation rates, in front of standard care. In our area, especially in some high risk sub-groups, it could be an important intervention to improve individual care. The aim of the pilot initiative is to compare the effect of group prenatal care support versus only standard individual care on breastfeeding initiation rates and other perinatal outcomes. A retrospective cohort study was made analyzing all deliveries at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona during 1 year. All pregnant women were compared depending on whether they had received the group prenatal care support by midwifes or only standard care. 1383 women gave birth at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona in 2015. 207 received group prenatal care support (15% of total). In group prenatal care there significantly were more nulliparous and native women. Breastfeeding initiation rate was higher in group prenatal care women (94.2% vs. 86.7%, p=0.01). Other outcomes like cesarean section rates, prematurity and low birth weight rates also improved in group prenatal care support in front of standard care. Our study suggests that group prenatal care support improves breastfeeding initiation rates and some other maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Highlights

Obstetrics, from the Latin “obstare” (-waiting for-), consists of controlling and attending pregnant women, fetus circumstances and childbirth
Our study suggests that group prenatal care support improves breastfeeding initiation rates and some other maternal and perinatal outcomes
The aim of this study is to compare the effect of group prenatal care (GPC) support versus only standard individual care (SIC) on breastfeeding initiation rates and other perinatal outcomes

Summary

Introduction

Obstetrics, from the Latin “obstare” (-waiting for-), consists of controlling and attending pregnant women, fetus circumstances and childbirth. Prenatal care pretends to improve perinatal outcomes in terms of prematurity, low birth weight, screening of maternal conditions such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, as well as global fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Different strategies in prenatal phase have worked in postnatal care, as for breastfeeding initiation rates [2]. The tools and type of follow-up in low risk pregnancies remain controversial [3]. In this way, prenatal care could be useful for high risk demographic sub-groups like immigrants or women with a low socio-economic status [4, 5] for who breastfeeding could be harder to implement [6]

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