Mother and Late Preterm Lactation Study (MAPLeS)

University College London (UCL)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Preterm Infant; Breastfeeding; Stress, Psychological; Postnatal Depression

Treatments: Other: Breastfeeding Support

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03791749

IRAS: 252031

Details and patient eligibility

About

Breastfeeding has various benefits for the mother and infant. It has the capability of reducing the risk of short term and long term problems for the infant, such as gastroenteritis, respiratory infections, type II diabetes and obesity, and of providing benefits for neurodevelopment. Breast milk offers even greater benefits for preterm infants. Some of the advantages of breastfeeding are related to the constituents of breast milk such as the macronutrients and bioactive factors, the hormones associated with breastfeeding such as oxytocin, and the behavioural aspects of breastfeeding (maternal sensitivity to infant cues). Despite these advantages, breastfeeding rates are below target levels mainly due to the challenges that women face that hinder breastfeeding success. Interventions aimed at improving policies, practices, and maternal support have been developed. However, other interventions that target specific modifiable barriers to breastfeeding can be useful.

The aim of this study is to investigate a simple support intervention for breastfeeding mothers of late preterm and early term infants on maternal stress reduction and infant weight gain. The investigators also aim to study the potential mechanisms by which this effect could be achieved (breast milk composition and volume, mother and infant behaviour).

Enrollment: 72 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Mothers of late preterm infants (34 to <37 weeks) or early term infants (37 to 38 weeks)
• Intending to breastfeed for at least 6 weeks
• Free from serious illness
• Fluent in English

Exclusion criteria

• Currently smoking or intending to smoke while breastfeeding
• Not based in London
• Prior breast surgery

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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72 participants in 2 patient groups

Breastfeeding Support

Experimental group

Description:

Home visits will be conducted at 2-3 and 6-8 weeks post-delivery. Mothers will be asked to perform a simple technique while breastfeeding at least once a day.

Treatment:

Other: Breastfeeding Support

Standard Care

No Intervention group

Description:

Home visits will be conducted at 2-3 and 6-8 weeks post-delivery. No intervention will be administered.