Maternal self-confidence facilitates infant growth and new mother role development. Infant ability to breastfeed and maternal breastfeeding self-confidence are imperative to helping mothers meet their breastfeeding goals. Consistent opportunity for infant movement in the prone position has been shown to improve breastfeeding ability; however, families report a lack of knowledge of how to safely support this activity. Perceptions of maternal selfconfidence, infant development, and breastfeeding success upon completion of an infant prone positioning program with focus on posture, movement, and connection were studied. Study Design and Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted among breastfeeding mothers in three states to explore maternal perceptions of learning about infant prone positioning.
Background: There have been no comprehensive predictive measurement instruments published that account for the dynamic interaction between maternal, infant, and functional factors related to breastfeeding difficulty. The Lactation Care Assessment Tool (LACT) was developed by the authors as a predictive measure of lactation acuity to identify families at risk for breastfeeding difficulty and facilitate access to the most effective level of care. Research Aim: To describe the development, content validation, and interrater reliability of the LACT. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, online survey. Upon reading a standardized case scenario reflective of common experiences among families with goals to breastfeed, participants ( N = 82) anonymously completed the LACT, which consisted of 16 measures based upon research relevant to maternal, infant, and functional factors affecting breastfeeding success. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize and describe the characteristics of the study sample. Interrater reliability was evaluated using Krippendorff’s alpha. Results: An acceptable degree of interrater reliability ( α = 0.70) among participants was detected for the 16 measures included in the instrument. Conclusion: This instrument supports Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Step 10 to facilitate more precise and timely continuity of care after discharge from the hospital by identifying families in need of referral to a level of care consistent with their lactation acuity. Future research is necessary to determine appropriate levels of care and support based on the instrument scores in diverse breastfeeding dyads during early lactation and through the duration of breastfeeding.
BackgroundLactation consultants understand the mechanisms and research supporting breastfeeding’s positive impact on infant mortality reduction, including lifelong health outcomes and associated cost savings. Lactation services can enhance the success of programs intended to improve infant mortality rates, health outcomes and cost effectiveness.ProgramAs leaders serving the Ohio Lactation Consultant Association (OLCA), we pursued engagement with Ohio Department of Medicaid policy chiefs to ensure incorporation of these facts as programs are created to improve health and optimize allocation of Medicaid resources.ResultAfter a productive meeting, we specifically, we proposed that professional lactation services be standard care and fully integrated across the healthcare continuum regardless of setting and ability to pay.
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