Integrative Review of Interventions to Promote Breastfeeding in the Late Preterm Infant

Abstract

Objective To define the different breastfeeding interventions that promote breastfeeding exclusivity and duration in the late preterm infant and to synthesize findings from the published empirical literature on late preterm infant breastfeeding interventions. Data Sources The databases CINAHL, Scopus, and PubMed were searched for primary research articles on breastfeeding interventions for late preterm infants. Inclusion criteria included original research studies in which authors examined a breastfeeding intervention or second-line strategy in a sample inclusive of but not necessarily limited to the gestational age range of 34 to 36 6/7 weeks gestation, written in English, and published between 2005 and 2015. Study Selection Thirteen articles were identified, including five randomized controlled trials, three quasi-experimental studies, four descriptive studies, and one case study. Data Extraction Whittemore and Knafl’s methodology guided this integrative review. Data extraction and organization occurred under the following headings: author and year, study design, level of evidence, purpose, sample, setting, results, limitations, recommendations, and intervention. Data Synthesis Studies on breastfeeding interventions were synthesized under four concepts within the Late Preterm Conceptual Framework: Physiologic Functional Status, Care Practices, Family Role, and Care Environment. Conclusions The majority of the breastfeeding interventions within this integrative review had positive effects on exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding in the late preterm infant. However, second line strategies were equivocal on exclusivity but had positive effects on duration. Results highlight the positive effects of breastfeeding interventions on breastfeeding exclusivity and duration and points to the need for a focus on breastfeeding after the transition home for late preterm infants.

Breastfeeding progression in late preterm infants from birth to one month

“…However, the use of some of these interventions is controversial, as the evidence base is weak, and studies conducted on both term and preterm infants have shown negative effects, such as reduced breastfeeding self‐efficacy and shorter duration of breastfeeding (Geraghty, Khoury, & Kalkwarf, ; Jiang et al, ; Keemer, ; Kronborg, Foverskov, Nilsson, & Maastrup, ). Evaluations of interventions for breastfeeding the LPT infants have mainly been conducted in NICU settings with LPT infants as a part of a preterm population and without comparison with term infants or LPT infants in maternity wards (Cartwright, Atz, Newman, Mueller, & Demirci, ).…”

Influence of a Breastfeeding Coaching Program on the Breastfeeding Rates and Neonatal Morbidity in Late Preterm Infants

“…However, the proportion of preterm births has increased from 5.5% of births (25,655 cases) in 2008 to 7.8%(25,202) in 2018 [1]. Preterm or premature infants born at less than 37 weeks of gestation are likely to be at a greater risk of morbidity and mortality than full-term infants [2].…”

“…The late preterm breastfeeding promotion interventions conducted in previous studies involved skin-to-skin contact to simulate breast milk production just after birth, cup feeding and triple feeding instead of bottle-feeding to improve breastfeeding, and a family care program recommending rooming-in in the NICU to facilitate breastfeeding by providing the mother with unrestricted access to the baby [2]. These interventions were primarily implemented in hospitals during the LPIs' hospital stay and discontinued after discharge.…”

Stilltreff – ein Nachsorgeangebot zur Förderung des Selbstmanagements von stillenden Müttern

“…Beratung und Anleitung durch geschultes Pflegepersonal, ausgebildete Stillberaterinnen und Peer-to-Peer-Groups zeigen erhöhte Stillraten [5]. Dies lässt den Schluss zu, dass Wochenbettabteilungen ihren Fokus auf gut geschultes Personal legen sollten.…”