Privacy, Early Colostrum, and Gestational Age are Associated with
                    Exclusive Breastfeeding in Preterm and Sick Term Infants

Eva Heine; Katrin Mehler; Michiko Schöpping; Lisa Ganesh; Ruth Klein; Angela Kribs; Titus Keller

doi:10.1055/a-1524-3328

Zeitschrift für Geburtshilfe und Neonatologie, Table of Contents

Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol 2021; 225(04): 346-352
DOI: 10.1055/a-1524-3328

Original Article

Privacy, Early Colostrum, and Gestational Age are Associated with Exclusive Breastfeeding in Preterm and Sick Term Infants

Eva Heine

¹Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

,

Katrin Mehler

¹Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

,

Michiko Schöpping

¹Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

,

Lisa Ganesh

¹Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

,

Ruth Klein

¹Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

,

Angela Kribs

¹Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

,

Titus Keller

¹Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Our study was designed to assess the rates of exclusive breastfeeding (defined as direct breastfeeding) and the use of mother’s own milk (MOM) in preterm infants and sick term infants at discharge and to identify potential influencing factors such as gestational age, early colostrum, and privacy. The study was conducted at a German level III neonatal department. All preterm and sick term infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, the pediatric intensive care unit, the intermediate care unit, and the low care ward were included in the study. Infants were recruited between March and October 2015 (phase 1) and April to July 2016 (phase 2). Due to an emergency evacuation, privacy was limited during the first phase. Breastfeeding and the use of MOM were assessed daily using a self-designed score. In total, 482 infants of 452 mothers were included. More than 90% initiated breastfeeding and one-third were exclusively breastfed at discharge. Extremely immature infants and late preterm infants were less likely to be exclusively breastfed at discharge. Privacy (p<0.001) and early colostrum (p=0.002) significantly increased exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion Extremely immature and late preterm infants were least likely to be exclusively breastfed at discharge and need special support. Interventions such as privacy and early colostrum should be promoted to increase breastfeeding.

Key words

infant, breastfeeding, Mother’s own milk, colostrum

Schlüsselwörter

Frühgeborene, Stillen, Mutttermilch, Kolostrum

Full Text

References

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