Breastfeeding Preterm Infants - The Efficacy of Internet-based Peer Support

University of Turku

Status: Completed

Conditions: Breast Feeding; Infant, Premature

Treatments: Behavioral: Breastfeeding peer support

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02580786

26/2011

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study examines if the internet-based peer support has an effect on the breastfeeding attitude or the duration of breastfeeding in preterm infants and their mothers compared with mothers with routine care. The factors associated with the initiation of breastfeeding in the neonatal intensive care unit will be determined. In addition, the perceptions of the mothers of preterm infants about their needs and problems when breastfeeding their preterm infants are described.

Enrollment: 124 patients

Sex: Female

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Mothers giving birth before full 35 gestational weeks in a study hospital

Exclusion criteria

• The mother not able to speak Finnish
• The infant's condition is critical (based on the paediatrician),
• The mother has a syndrome or illness preventing breastfeeding

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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124 participants in 2 patient groups

Breastfeeding peer support

Experimental group

Description:

Internet-based breastfeeding peer-support group in social media (Facebook). The mothers are allowed to use the group based on their individual needs from the recruitment to the first birthday of their child. Peer support is provided by three voluntary mothers. The mothers can discuss breastfeeding-related issues and ask questions. A midwife will moderate the group.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Breastfeeding peer support

Routine breastfeeding support

No Intervention group

Description:

Routine breastfeeding support provided in the hospital and in the maternal and child health clinics