Infant Breastfeeding Assessment Tool (IBFAT) scoring discrepancy between mothers and lactation consultants

Abstract

Our objective was to determine the correlation between maternal vs. Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant's (IBCLC) rating of a breastfeeding (BF) session. We analyzed results from an ongoing study assessing BF techniques of low‐income, predominantly Latina, obese women. Two BF sessions were videotaped on days 2, 4, and 7 postpartum (pp) for a total of six sessions per participant. Maternal IBFAT scores (n=14) were obtained immediately after BF. A panel of three IBCLC's are independently rating each videotaped session. Spearman correlation coefficients were assessed to determine the similarity between maternal and IBCLC ratings. Preliminary ratings completed by one IBCLC showed essentially no correlation between maternal and IBCLC scores on day 2 pp (rho=.001) and a negative correlation on day 7 pp (rho=‐.464). Additionally, the maternal ratings of rooting, fixing, and sucking pattern were not significantly correlated to total maternal IBFAT scores on day 7 pp (rho=.272, .085, and .080 respectively) and IBCLC ratings of rooting and fixing items were not significantly correlated to the total IBCLC score on day 7 pp (rho=.117 and .139 respectively). These preliminary finding suggest a lack of maternal comprehension of the components of a successful BF session and demonstrate inconsistencies between maternal and IBCLC ratings for specific scale items. Funded by CDC via subcontract with APTR.