Abstract
Fu I1, Fong D, Heys M, Lee I, Sham A, Tarrant M. Professional breastfeeding support for first-time mothers: a multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial. BJOG. 2014 May 26. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.12884. Among breastfeeding women, what is the therapeutic efficacy of professional breastfeeding follow-up support, compared with standard care, in enhancing breastfeeding continuation? Randomized controlled trial. Three geographically distributed public hospitals in Hong Kong, China. 722 primiparous breastfeeding mothers with uncomplicated, full-term pregnancies. (1) Standard postnatal maternity care; (2) standard care plus three in-hospital professional breastfeeding support sessions; or (3) standard care plus weekly post-discharge breastfeeding telephone support for 4 weeks. Prevalence of any and/or exclusive breastfeeding at 1, 2, and 3 months postpartum. Compared with standard care only, participants receiving telephone support were significantly more likely to continue any breastfeeding at: 1 month (76.2% versus 67.3%; number needed to treat [NNT] 12, 95% CI 6-83); and 2 months: (58.6 versus 48.9%; NNT 10, 95% CI 6-60); and to be exclusively breastfeeding at 1 month: (28.4% versus 16.9%; NNT 9, 95% CI 6-23). There were no other statistically significant relationships among the 3 groups. Professional breastfeeding telephone support provided early in the postnatal period, and continued for the first month postpartum, improves breastfeeding duration among first-time mothers.
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