Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing Commons^™

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 …

Factors That Influence Mothers' Decisions Concerning Breastfeeding, Kimberly M. Futrelle

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore factors that influence decisions concerning breastfeeding in a group of 30 mothers who are employed, place their children in a childcare center, and whose children are five years of age and under. The study utilized Fishbein and Ajzen’s Theory of Reasoned Action as the conceptual framework. The descriptive study allowed for determination of the factors of attitudes, beliefs, and opinions that influence mothers’ decisions concerning breastfeeding. Statistical data compiled from survey results revealed many participants believed that breast milk is less expensive than formula. However, a significant number of mothers were neutral …

Breast Milk Exposure And The Incidence Of Necrotizing Enterocolitis In Very Low Birth Weight Pre-Term Infants, Meaghan Sullivan

Honors Scholar Theses

Purpose: To determine what degree of exposure to breast milk feeding is protective against Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) in very low birthweight (VLBW) preterm infants.

Data Sources: This is a secondary data analysis of 56 VLBW preterm infants diagnosed with NEC and 56 age-matched VLBW infants who served as controls. All infants were born between 1997 and 2009 and cared for in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Infants were born at or before 29 weeks gestation and with a birth weight less than 1500 grams. Data included the volume fed daily and type of feeding along with demographic birth data. …

Breastfeeding Intention Within A Rural Postpartum Population: Does Education Matter?, Brooke Hawkins

DNP Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to determine breastfeeding intention in a rural population after receiving education from a certified lactation consultant.

Review of the Literature: The benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child are clearly stated in the literature. Despite the known benefits, rates of breastfeeding are decreased within rural populations. Previous research suggests education about breastfeeding benefits is beneficial in increasing these rates. In particular, previous studies focused on the contributing factors affecting a mother’s decision to breast or formula feed. However, few studies were found strictly evaluating breastfeeding intention after receiving formal …

A Systematic Review: Effects Of Breastfeeding On Early And Late Childhood, Kara Campbell, Samantha Fritz

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Abstract

The topic of the long-term impact of breast milk and formula milk composition on the health status of children continues to be a focus of discussion and research. The aim of this systematic review is to describe and critically appraise current evidence regarding the lasting effects of breastfeeding on health outcomes in children throughout early and late childhood. Twenty-one studies focusing on infant feeding were identified using PubMed, CINAHL, and Medline databases. These studies were then categorized according to health outcomes such as: weight, developmental, and immune system effects. Through a critical appraisal of this evidence, it was found …

In-Hospital Factors Associated With Supplementation Among Healthy, Full-Term, Breastfed Infants, Jodi Kae O'Brien

Dissertations

Background: Formula supplementation of healthy, term, breastfed infants born to mothers who plan to exclusively breastfeed persists at high rates, in spite of global reduction efforts. The identification of modifiable risk factors for supplementation and effective nursing care for successful breastfeeding is understudied.

Purpose: This study aimed to better understand the obstetrical, hospital, and nursing factors associated with supplementation during the hospital stay. The aims were: (1) examine the relationships between aspects of hospital care of infants who are supplemented compared to infants exclusively breastfed and (2) determine what in-hospital risk factors increase the odds of formula supplementation among a …

The Effect Of Nurse Dose On Breastfeeding Exclusivity - A Patient Level Analysis, Gwen Moreland

DNP Projects

Background: Breastfeeding is strongly associated with health benefits for children and their mothers. Despite this knowledge, breastfeeding rates in the United States have increased only slightly. Current research examines the relationship between nurse characteristics and patient outcomes in adult intensive care and acute care settings. To date there is very limited research examining nurse variables and outcomes in women and children, and very little knowledge regarding the characteristics of the nurse in relation to patient’s breastfeeding success.

Purpose: The purpose of this practice inquiry project was to evaluate the relationship between the attributes of nurse dose and the immediacy and …

Community Level Assessment For Breastfeeding In The Gateway District, Vanessa Flannery

DNP Projects

Purpose: To assess community level support for breastfeeding in the Gateway District of eastern Kentucky.

Methods: A descriptive study was conducted to identify institutional support of breastfeeding women. Data collected during interviews included community level support based on the framework of the Ten Step program from the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) (WHO & UNICEF, 2009) and the Mother-Friendly Worksite Initiative (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2012). Respondents answered questions to determine breastfeeding support from the healthcare, education and business communities.

Results: Of the ten organizations whose representatives were interviewed, 100% perceived health benefits for mothers and infants from breastfeeding. …

Breastfeeding With The Bronson Mothers’ Milk Bank, Marykate Bodnar

Masters Theses

Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo is home to one of only 15 certified breast milk banks in the United States. Women have shared breast milk for centuries through wet nurses, but this institutionalized and regulated version of sharing is distinct from previous forms. Breastfeeding has become a symbol of successful motherhood; donor milk adds a new dimension to this aspect of idealized motherhood. This study explores how the milk bank works: its organizational structure within a hospital, how donors are selected, and how recipients qualify for donor milk. It is grounded in Feminist and Medical Anthropology literature. Using semi-structured interviews …

The Relationships Among Perceived Stress, Birth Satisfaction, And Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy In Early Postpartum Women, Katherine Hinic

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This descriptive correlational study examined the relationships among perceived stress, birth satisfaction, and breastfeeding self-efficacy in women in the early postpartum period. The study, guided by self-efficacy and stress and coping theories, aimed to identify factors related to breastfeeding self-efficacy, an important psychological variable in sustained breastfeeding. The sample (N =107) was comprised of primarily well-educated, higher income, non-Hispanic White (69.8%) women recruited from a single New Jersey hospital in the first four days postpartum. The sample was comprised of nearly equal numbers of primiparous and multiparous women, all of whom expressed an intention to breastfeed, with an overall …

Support For Breastfeeding Mothers: Are You Violating The Law?, Phillip Atherton, Christine Buttrick

Nursing Student Publications

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the “Break Time for Nursing Mothers” law in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that requires employers to provide an opportunity for nursing mothers to breastfeed while at work. The law necessitates employers give a “reasonable” amount of time and a private space that is not a bathroom for the first year of a new infant’s life. In order to help mothers have access to breastfeeding, awareness of this law must be expanded, and the implementation of lactation programs in every workplace must be enforced so that mothers can continue to breastfeed …

Caregiving Factors Affecting Breastfeeding Duration Within A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit., Sharon G. Casavant, Georgine Burke, Carrie-Ellen Briere, Jacqueline Mcgrath

University Scholar Projects

Abstract

Background: Increasingly, evidence supports oral feeding of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infants exclusively at breast or with breastmilk. Despite known breastmilk benefits, outcomes related to exclusive breastmilk provision are poor. Identifying factors that promote breastmilk provision is critical.

Purpose: Breastfeeding practices of mothers of VLBW infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were explored to identify factors associated with mode of feeding at discharge.

Method:

This retrospective study replicates previous work. Subjects were VLBW preterm infants consecutively admitted during a 24-month period. Primary outcomes included receiving any breastmilk at discharge. Infant variables included gestational age (GA), post-menstrual age (PMA) …

The Effect Of An Antenatal Breastfeeding Intervention On Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy And Intention Among Inner City Adolescents, Jamie El Harit

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

According to Healthy People 2020, infants who are breastfed have improved nutritional, immunological, developmental, and social outcomes (USDHHS, 2014). Despite the benefits of breastfeeding and the focused international efforts to increase levels of breastfeeding, adolescents remain largely unaware and continue to have among the lowest levels of breastfeeding initiation (CDC, 2013; Spear, 2006). The purpose of this EBP project was to reduce the disparities of breastfeeding initiation by increasing breastfeeding self-efficacy and intention in an inner city specialty high school. Synthesis of the evidence demonstrated that needs-based, repeated antenatal education delivered by a lactation expert including breastfeeding peer counselor supports …

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 …

Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy In A Sample Of Wic Participants, Sarah Rowe

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Breastfeeding is recognized as the gold standard for infant nutrition. Women enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) give birth to over half of the infants born in the US and over 50% of manufactured formula is sold to WIC participants. The aim of this study was to determine the breastfeeding self-efficacy score and to evaluate if there was a relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy scores and initiation and duration of breastfeeding in a sample of women enrolled in a WIC program. A total of 33 subjects were included in this study. Findings indicated women …

Variables Influencing Breastfeeding Among First Time Mothers, Myra Westbrooks

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This research examined the variables that influence breastfeeding in first time mothers. The study utilized Fishbein and Ajzen’s Theory of Reasoned Action as the theoretical framework. The sample included 147 first time mothers and utilized a descriptive design with a retrospective chart review. The descriptive study allowed for the identification of variables and patterns or characteristics of first time mothers who chose to breastfeed. Associations between several demographic variables and breastfeeding were identified in this study. By identifying variables that have a significant influence on breastfeeding, focused action plans can be developed to improve both maternal and infant health outcomes.

Challenges To Breastfeeding Infants With Phenylketonuria, Sandra Banta-Wright

Faculty Publications - College of Nursing

Breastfeeding duration for infants with phenylketonuria (PKU) is less than other full-term infants. However, no study has examined the challenges encountered by mothers' breastfeeding infants with PKU. In 75 mothers of a child with PKU, three categories of breastfeeding challenges were identified: common breastfeeding issues, breastfeeding and PKU, and no challenges. The common breastfeeding issues can be identified in the literature but for these mothers, the issues are heightened due to frequent phenylalanine (Phe) monitoring. Even so, many mothers adapt breastfeeding to maintain desired Phe levels. A few mothers had no issues and were the exception, not the norm.

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 …

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 …

Breastfeeding Education: Improving Initiation And Duration Of Breastfeeding, Rhonda Coffey

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research study was to examine the level of self-efficacy for new mothers attending a formal breastfeeding education compared to those that did not. Participants were asked to complete the Breast Feeding Self-Efficacy Scale - Short Form via telephone. Twenty primigravida mothers who were breastfeeding at the time of discharge agreed to participate. A Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated examining the relationship between the participant's level of self-efficacy and participation in formal breastfeeding. The Pearson correlation coefficient was positive but was not statistically significant ( r (18)= .250, p > .05) indicating no relationship between the participant's self-efficacy …

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 …

An Investigation Of The Effects Of Pitocin For Labor Induction And Augmentation On Breastfeeding Success, Megan J. Lewis

Scripps Senior Theses

Rates of labor induction and augmentation have been increasing in recent decades (Glantz, 2005). According to the Listening to Mothers II survey, half of all labors in the U.S. are induced or augmented with Pitocin or other synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin (Declercq et al., 2006). Oxytocin, a naturally occurring hormone released in the pituitary gland, is involved in the stimulation of uterine contractions during labor and in the milk ejection reflex during breastfeeding, and research suggests it also has various effects on the brain, such as eliciting maternal behavior. However, studies have shown that exogenous oxytocin can interfere …

Attitudes Of Young Adults About Breastfeeding And The Association Of Breastfeeding Exposure, Cheryl Lynn Darby-Carlberg

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study was conducted to determine the attitudes of young adults in Clark County, Nevada about breastfeeding and was a replication of part of a study by Marrone, Vogeltanz-Holm, and Holm (2008). The theory for reasoned action was used as the framework to guide the study. This theory explains deliberate behavior and how specific behaviors, such as breastfeeding, are affected by individual attitudes and social support. The research is a cross-sectional correlational study and sought to test two null hypotheses: (1) There is no association between previous exposure to breastfeeding and positive attitudes toward breastfeeding, and (2) There is no …

A Case Study On Using The Via Christi Breastfeeding Assessment Tool In A Clinical Setting, Rouba Taha

Honors Scholar Theses

Aims- The goal of this study is to obtain a subjective point of view of the use, benefits, and shortcomings of the Via Christi breastfeeding Assessment Tool in a clinical setting.

Methods- This case study is based on a single yet detailed interview with a lactation consultant who has utilized the Via Christi Breastfeeding Tool in a clinical setting.

Findings- Advantages of the Via Christi Breastfeeding Assessment Tool include that the tool is practical and concrete, encompassing both a subjective dimension and the basic elements of breastfeeding. Shortcomings of the tool include its non-specificity in focus on the feeding technique …

Method Of Infant Feeding As A Predictor Of Maternal Responsiveness, Emily Eiwen Drake

Theses and Dissertations

Infants need to develop effective, secure attachment to their primary caregivers in the first year of life. Researchers have not been able to identify all the factors that may influence the development of infant attachment. Most of the studies in this area have been done without regard to infant feeding as a potential factor. Maternal responsiveness appears to be key in the child's development of secure attachment behaviors, yet even after decades of research on infant attachment and maternal responsiveness, there is little evidence available to assist with early identification of families at risk and few interventions known to be …