Peer counselors improve breastfeeding technique among low‐income, obese women

Abstract

Data included in these analyses are from a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) (N=206) evaluating a specialized (SP) peer counseling intervention targeting obese women (3 prenatal, daily hospital and 11 postpartum (pp) visits). The control group received standard (std) care including access to a std peer counselor (PC). These analyses include 45 women from the RCT (Intervention n=22, Control n=23). The objective was to evaluate the impact of a SP breastfeeding (BF) PC on BF technique. Two BF sessions were taped on days 2, 4, and 7 pp. Tapes were edited to remove identifying characteristics and rated independently by 3 Lactation Consultants using the Infant BF Assessment Tool (IBFAT) and Via Christi BF Assessment Tool (VC). T‐tests revealed no significant difference on days 2 or 4 pp. On day 7 pp better BF technique was observed in the intervention group with significantly higher VC scores vs. controls (7.5±1.0 vs. 5.6±3.3, respectively p=.026). IBFAT scores tended to be higher in the intervention vs. controls (11.5±1.2 vs. 9.4±4.3, p=.068, respectively). Maternal report of PC contact during the first week pp was significantly higher in the intervention group vs. controls (143.8±101.6 vs. 39.8±37.1 mins respectively, p=.001). These preliminary findings suggest specialized BF PC provided at a high intensity during the first week pp improved BF technique by day 7 pp.Funded by CDC/ATPR and NIH/NCMHD Grant P20MD001765