Exclusive Breastfeeding Versus Formula Feeding: Evaluating The Development Of Childhood Allergies, Jasmine Olshin, Anna Kousky, Lily Williams, Michael Mark

Non-Thesis Student Work

Allergies such as dietary, allergic rhinitis, allergy-related asthma, and atopic dermatitis have become increasingly prevalent in childhood and pose a public health concern – especially as severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, are rising among children. Exclusive breastfeeding and formula feeding are two common infant feeding practices, but their role in influencing the development of childhood allergies are not entirely understood. Thus, the question is raised as to whether infants who are exclusively breastfed are at a decreased risk for developing childhood allergies, compared to infants who are formula fed. A literature search was conducted utilizing relevant databases PubMed, BioMed …

Prenatal Education For Black Mothers And Their Support Persons As An Intervention For Improving Initiation Of Breastfeeding, Sandra King

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: The benefits of breastfeeding are commonly known; however, the rates of exclusive breastfeeding among the Black community are less than those of other ethnic groups. Providing breastmilk or formula to an infant is an individual decision. Influential factors such as cultural background, employment status, socioeconomic status, level of education, and availability of support from family members and health care providers correlate with the method a mother chooses to feed her infant. Increasing breastfeeding initiation immediately after birth is a necessary precedent for uptake in the exclusivity of breastfeeding.

Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice project aims to improve prenatal …

Tiny Tusks Internship: Barriers To Breastfeeding Surrounding Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Brianna Purser, Quinn Owen

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

It is known that breastfeeding is beneficial to mothers and their children, and it is recommended that mothers exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of their infant's life. Despite this, in the United States only 1 in 4 infants is exclusively breastfed for the first six months. After being an intern for Tiny Tusks Breastfeeding and Infant Support, a program designed to facilitate and educate about breastfeeding, we have seen firsthand the barriers to breastfeeding. The goal of this literature review was to investigate barriers to breastfeeding specifically surrounding neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and how to address those …

Tiny Tusks Internship: Barriers To Breastfeeding, Cameron Watson

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Tiny Tusks Breastfeeding and Infant Support Internship allows students to gain insight on breastfeeding practices through volunteering at University of Arkansas sporting events. Therefore, I chose to review prevalent barriers to breastfeeding that mothers in the United States face. These mothers were at least one of these: Hispanic, Marshallese, African American, disabled, employed, a veteran, living in a rural area, or a woman of the general American population. This topic is relevant because of the many benefits that breastfeeding provides for both the baby and the mother.

Tiny Tusks Internship: The Effect Of Health Care Providers' Education And Attitudes Toward Breastfeeding On The Mother's Decision To Breastfeed, Jocelyn Clark

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

There is a stigma surrounding breastfeeding in the public community, places of employment, and health care facilities. This paper focuses on the impact health care workers have on the mother's decision to breastfeed her infant, and her ability to continue breastfeeding as the primary source of infant nutrition. This paper includes experiences from an internship with Tiny Tusks, which provides breastfeeding support to mothers in the Northwest Arkansas area. Tiny Tusks allows for a better understanding of the community's breastfeeding needs and provides support to breastfeeding mothers in order to reduce the stigma associated with breastfeeding. In health care environments, …

Tiny Tusks Internship: The Importance Of Breastfeeding Education In The Workplace, Gianna Hogan

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breastfeeding education in public, especially in the workplace, is a concept that has a multitude of different perspectives. Research has shown that breastfeeding has many positive effects on mother and baby, that can be lessened due to the lack of breastfeeding support in various organizations. In this literature review, barriers to breastfeeding in the workplace were analyzed in order to understand the effects these barriers have on breastfeeding duration. In addition, this review helped emphasize the need for policies to be enacted in the workplace to better support breastfeeding mothers, and the impact these policies have on employee retention rates …

Standardizing Assessment And Management Of Ankyloglossia, Marcia Nicole Cowen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Ankyloglossia, which is characterized by a short, tight or thick lingual frenulum, can negatively impact breastfeeding. It has been recognized as a problem for centuries. Frenotomies have traditionally been performed to remove the lingual frenulum when indicated. The use of frenotomies and a focus on ankyloglossia fell out of favor in the twentieth century with renewed attention in the past several decades. Limited high-quality studies have been undertaken on ankyloglossia. There remains no standardized diagnosis or management recommendations. In efforts to promote a standardized approach that is based on current knowledge, this study will involve an educational in-service on ankyloglossia, …

Tiny Tusks: Breastfeeding And Infant Support Internship Review, Blair Wilhelm

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Tiny Tusks: Breastfeeding and Infant Support is a tent and lactation room at University of Arkansas athletic events such as men's basketball and football games that allows moms that are breastfeeding a comfortable and private area. Tiny Tusks aims to empower and educate moms about the benefits of breastfeeding and decrease the stigma behind it. The tent offers comfortable chairs, a changing table, arts and crafts for younger kids and educational pamphlets and brochures. Tiny Tusks is run by certified lactation consultants, BSN honors students and Eleanor Mann School of Nursing faculty. Participants were asked to fill out a survey …

Breastfeeding Issues Leading To Early Cessation, Brandy Kirstein

DNP Research Projects

Breastfeeding has come to the forefront in modern research as a necessary and important phenomenon to understand and address due to the vast amount of evidence revealing its health benefits for both Mom and baby. Disparities exist related to socioeconomic status, education level, poverty, young age, obesity, alcohol use, smoking, and living in rural areas. This project aims to discover the areas that need the most awareness and change specific to the state of Tennessee to increase the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding for six months (EBF6) creating healthier future generations and society. This project was a non-experimental, retrospective, correlational design, …

Impact Of Donor Milk On Short- And Long-Term Growth Of Very Low Birth Weight Infants, Rebecca Hoban, Michael E. Schoeny, Anita Esquerra-Zwiers, Tanyaporn K. Kaenkumchorn, Gina Casini, Grace Tobin, Alan H. Siegel, Kousiki Patra, Matthew Hamilton, Jennifer Wicks, Paula Meier, Aloka L. Patel

Faculty Publications

Mother’s own milk (MOM) reduces the risk of morbidities in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. When MOM is unavailable, donor breastmilk (DM) is used, with unclear impact on short- and long-term growth. This retrospective analysis compared anthropometric data at six time points from birth to 20–24 months corrected age in VLBW infants who received MOM supplements of preterm formula (n = 160) versus fortified DM (n = 161) during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization. The cohort was 46% female; mean birth weight and gestational age (GA) were 998 g and 27.3 weeks. Multilevel linear growth models assessed changes …

Long-Term Effects Of Breastfeeding Compared With Alternative Food Sources: A Systematic Review, Charlotte Bates

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The topic of the long-term impact of breast milk and alternative foods on the health status of children continues to be a focus of discussion and research. The aim of this systematic review was to describe and appraise evidence about the effects of breast feeding on health outcomes in children four years and older. Seventeen studies about on infant feeding were identified using Google Scholar and scholarly databases through The University of Akron. Google Scholar, CINAHL, and MEDLINE PLUS methods of searching were utilized, incorporating keywords, i.e., “breastfeeding” AND “cognitive development;” “obesity,”, “intelligence,”, and “immune system.” Based on appraisal of …

Lactation Clinic: Improving Patient Lactation Support, Iana Johnson

Master's Projects and Capstones

Despite the numerous health benefits and recommendations that breastfeeding is the optimal method for nourishing infants, many still choose other ways to feed their babies during the first year of life. This project considers the initiation and future implementation of a Lactation Clinic as an additional patient support service provided in the inpatient and outpatient settings. A Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) was conducted in an effort to evaluate and eliminate “what could go wrong” before such an establishment becomes operational. The Risk Priority Numbers (RPNs) from the analysis reveal the lack of use (RPN 50) and streamlining (RPN …

Development Of A Breastfeeding Class Specifically For Working Moms, Maryleah S. Needels

Master's Projects and Capstones

Successfully breastfeeding mothers who are planning to return to work and remain exclusively breastfeeding their infants have a knowledge deficit as to the federal law protecting their rights along with the basic skills for pumping, storing, and bottle-feeding of breast milk. There is a significant drop in breastfeeding rates at both the 3 and 6-month marker, which coincides with maternal return to employment. After attending the Working Moms Breastfeeding Class, 100% of mothers reported an increase in knowledge surrounding the law and the CDC’s basic skills for handling pumped breast milk based on a pre/post questionnaire. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy …

Breastfeeding: The Illusion Of Choice, Yeon Bai, Lauren Dinour

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Background

Breastfeeding is frequently described as a woman's decision, yet this choice is often illusionary owing to suboptimal social and structural supports. Despite the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010) that requires all qualifying employers to provide mothers “reasonable” break time and a private, non-bathroom space to express breast milk, the majority of women in the United States still do not have access to both accommodations.

The Problem

At least three issues may be influencing this suboptimal implementation at workplaces: 1) federal law does not address lactation space functionality and accessibility, 2) federal law only …

Breastfeeding Initiation And Continuation By Employment Status Among Korean Women, Yeon Bai, Nam Mi Kang, Jung Eun Lee, Theo Van Achterberg, Taisun Hyun

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

The objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding among Korean women in relation to their employment status. Data were collected using a web-based self-administered questionnaire from 1,031 Korean mothers living in Seoul with babies younger than 24 months. Demographic characteristics, education on breastfeeding, rooming in, breastfeeding during a hospital stay, and breastfeeding knowledge were examined. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with initiation and continuation at 1, 6 and 12 months according to mothers' employment status. Breastfeeding initiation rates were similar regardless of mothers' employment status. …

The Benefits Of Breastfeeding, Helen L. Byers

Senior Honors Theses

It is important to educate women of childbearing age, their families, and society of the benefits that breastfeeding has over bottle-feeding and formula-feeding. The benefits of breastfeeding are in three main categories. First, the developmental, physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of the baby will be discussed. Then the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits for the mother will be talked about along with possible contraindications or difficulties. Finally, the financial benefits of breastfeeding over feeding an infant from the bottle will be discussed as it relates to the family and government. The goal is to persuade that breastfeeding is a superior …

Kangaroo Care And Preterm Infants, Natalie Schindler, Kathryn Lynn

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Infants that are born near-term or before they reach their full gestational age of 40 weeks are at risk for facing future health problems and disparities in terms of proper development (Ladewig, London, & Davidson, 2012). This has been a major concern in the medical realm because of the high cost of managing preterm newborns and the complications that can develop. However, kangaroo care may aid in physical growth and cognitive development of these infants. The purpose of this integrative review was to determine if current research shows that kangaroo care has a positive effect on preterm infants in the …

Food For Health: An Investigation Of Infant Feeding Practices, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy, And Perceived Barriers And Facilitators, Jessica W. Smith

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with numerous health benefits for both mother and child, and is recommended for the first 6 months of an infant’s life. The purpose of this prospective study was to examine, using a survey-based design, the breastfeeding practices, self-efficacy, and perceived barriers and facilitators of primiparous mothers in London, Ontario. A total of 71 women (M_age = 30.0, SD = 4.3) participated in the study. Women (breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding) were asked to complete online surveys at three time points: < 4 weeks postpartum, 3 months postpartum, and 6 months postpartum. Results indicated that rates of exclusive breastfeeding decreased over time, whereas partial and non-breastfeeding rates increased. Women in the exclusive breastfeeding category reported the greatest levels of breastfeeding self-efficacy at all time points. Lastly, participants identified a number of breastfeeding-related facilitators (e.g., partner support, community services) and barriers (e.g., insufficient milk supply, latching difficulties).

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, Kathryn E. Brackett

Senior Honors Theses

Abstract

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a worldwide movement started by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that is aimed at providing hospitals with a certification that guarantees the best possible patient-centered care for mothers and infants. It focuses on breastfeeding as optimal infant nutrition, and implements strategies to encourage and support mothers to breastfeed their infants exclusively for six months after birth. The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding are a set of 10 simple, easy to understand guidelines developed by WHO and UNICEF for implementing this initiative in the hospital setting and …

The Benefits Of Breastfeeding, Avery Kordus

Senior Honors Theses

Breastfeeding research is plentiful, and the majority of the literature shows that breast milk is the superior form of infant nutrition except in the rare circumstances of infant metabolic disorders, maternal drug use, or positive HIV status. In comparison to formula, breast milk provides improved cognition, development, behavior, bonding, nutrition, digestion, immunity, and long-term health with fewer diseases and conditions in infants. Mothers are benefited by breastfeeding through bonding, faster weight loss, and reduction in certain cancers and conditions. Breast milk contains the proper amount of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, and is also specialized for each infant and …

Alternative Hospital Gift Bags And Breastfeeding Exclusivity, Yeon Bai, Shahla M. Wunderlich, Rickie Kashdan

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

The type of gift bags given to new mothers at the time of discharge from the hospital can influence their confidence in breastfeeding. Most hospitals in the US continue to distribute commercial gift bags containing formula samples despite the reported negative influence of commercial bags on the duration of breastfeeding. This study compared breastfeeding outcomes in women receiving three different kinds of gift bags at discharge. A prospective intervention study was conducted during the 2009-2010 in New Jersey. Three breastfeeding cohorts were recruited and assigned to three groups: COMMERCIAL received discharge bags containing formula samples, BF-INFO received breastfeeding information and …

The Factors That Influence Duration Of Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Mixed Methods Design, Roxanne K. Bowman

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Breastfeeding is the gold standard of infant feeding and its benefits extend beyond the mother and child. Multiple organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life. Exclusive breastfeeding rates nationally and in the state of Kentucky fall below the Healthy People 2020 goals. A mother’s intention to breastfeed has been shown to impact actual breastfeeding behavior. The current state of the measurement of intention was explored through a literature review. A majority of the measures were single item scales. The reliability and validity of the scales should be further tested in diverse populations.

The purposes …

Workplace Lactation Support: Project Development And Implementation, Peggy Rinehart

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Objective: A pilot project establishing a lactation support program for staff, faculty, and students at Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) was introduced in September 2012. The lactation support program is intended to promote and support breastfeeding and decrease barriers to continued breastfeeding for mothers who are employed or attending classes. The purpose of this paper is to report on the: (1) development and implementation of a lactation support program in a regional multi-campus community college; and (2) plans for evaluation of the effectiveness of the new program. Setting: The program was implemented at a community college with campus sites …