Lactation Outcomes Among Dyads Following Participation in a Model of Group Prenatal Care for Patients with Prenatally Diagnosed Fetal Anomalies.

Abstract

Introduction: MamaCare is an adaptation of the CenteringPregnancy group prenatal care model designed to support women when the pregnancy has been complicated by the presence of known congenital anomalies. The lactation-related outcomes of participants were unknown. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive cohort study describing the lactation-related outcomes of participants of MamaCare over 43 months. Data collection included abstraction of maternal demographic data, maternal group prenatal care session participation data, maternal pregnancy and delivery data, as well as documented lactation and breastfeeding data. Results: The total cohort consisted of 92 dyads. Of the 81 women who received an individualized prenatal nutrition consultation, 65 (80.2%) voiced a prenatal feeding goal of human milk and breastfeeding only, while the remaining 16 (19.8%) expressed goals of combination feeding (human milk and infant formula). For the surviving 85 infants, 91.8% of the mothers initiated lactation on the delivery day and the remaining 7 women initiated lactation on postpartum day 1. Also at the time of discharge from the initial intensive care unit stay, 87.1% of infants were receiving maternal human milk. Discussion: For families who participate in MamaCare, not only do they form a sense of community and learn about human milk and breastfeeding before delivery, the MamaCare facilitators and presenters normalize their experience to help MamaCare participants best meet their personal breastfeeding goals as well.