LATCH: Lactation Advice Thru Texting Can Help

Yale University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Breastfeeding Support

Treatments: Behavioral: LATCH Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02214849

1206010472

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to find out if a two-way texting platform to be used as an adjunct tool for breastfeeding peer counselors can improve breastfeeding behaviors among women enrolled in the WIC program in Connecticut. The hypothesis of the study is that providing additional information and support through text messaging starting in pregnancy and continuing after the birth of the child will increase exclusive breastfeeding rates during the first six months of life.

Enrollment: 249 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Pregnant women > 18 years
• Prenatal intention to breastfeed
• Prenatal enrollment < 28 weeks gestation
• Have an unlimited text message cell phone plan
• Knows how to send a text message
• 5th grade literacy level

Exclusion criteria

• Lack of fluency in either English or Spanish
• Infant born premature (<37 weeks)
• > 3 days in NICU
• Any major maternal-newborn medical problem affecting breastfeeding
• Birth weight <5lbs

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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249 participants in 1 patient group

LATCH Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Women enrolled in the WIC program and receiving breastfeeding peer counseling services will receive text messages to support them with their breastfeeding intentions. They will start receiving automated text messages starting in pregnancy and continuing throughout the first 6 months after giving birth. Messaging during pregnancy will emphasize what to expect in the hospital, the onset of lactation, skin-to-skin contact with baby, early and often breastfeeding in post-partum period, milk transfer (suck \& swallow), positioning (with links), common breastfeeding problems and how to seek help. Throughout the study, participants will be able to respond to automated text messages with specific questions that will be received and answered by their WIC program peer counselors. Texting will also have prompts to respond occasionally (at minimum once every two weeks) to ensure that phone is still in service and that the participant in the intervention arm are receiving intervention.

Treatment:

Behavioral: LATCH Intervention