Healthy Moms: Prenatal Counseling for Postpartum Health

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Maternal Care Patterns; Breastfeeding; Pregnancy Related
• Interventions: Behavioral: Breastfeeding; Behavioral: Smokefree Homes

• Registration Number: NCT04601987
• Lead Sponsor: University of California, Davis

Brief Summary

See https://studypages.com/s/healthy-moms-study-765273

This individual-level randomized trial involves pregnant women followed for at least 6 months after delivery, to compare the effects of providing two "attention-control" counseling interventions designed to increase pregnant women's awareness of either:

1. the maternal health benefits of breastfeeding, or

2. the health benefits of smoke-free homes

Detailed Description

The investigators will conduct an individual-level randomized trial involving pregnant women to compare the effects on infant feeding practices of providing pregnant women information about the maternal health benefits of breastfeeding to usual prenatal counseling focused on the infant health benefits of breastfeeding. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two equal sized groups by research assistants using a web-based random number generator that conceals allocation. Participants will be recruited online via UC Davis' StudyPages website. Screening will occur online at the participant's convenience. When screening criteria have been met, the research coordinator will be notified, and initiate contact with the participant by text and/or phone call to schedule a time to deliver the intervention. Due to social distancing measures that have been put into place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, informed consent will be collected digitally using the Qualtrics platform after potential participants complete a secondary screening survey. Consenting participants will use Qualtrics to complete a baseline/enrollment survey and be randomized and then scheduled for a time to receive their allocated counseling intervention using the Zoom platform. Follow-up surveys will be distributed to participants at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months postpartum.

Comparators:

Participants randomized to the "intervention group" will receive information about the maternal health benefits of breastfeeding from a research assistant who also will provide information on resources designed to support prenatal and postpartum health, including breastfeeding support groups. Participants will be presented with a series of images to look at while listening to the scripted counseling, including an image developed in 2002 by the Ad Council designed to convey a link between bottle-feeding and insulin use, as well as images developed specifically for use when counseling women about the maternal benefits of breastfeeding.

The "attention control" group will receive "usual care" from their prenatal care provider that focuses on the infant health benefits of breastfeeding. To control for the potential effects of receiving additional attention from a counselor, pregnant women enrolled in the control arm of this study will receive information from a peer counselor on the health benefits of "smoke- and weed-free homes".

The investigators will thoroughly train all research staff on the critical importance of delivering only the allocated counseling intervention to each study participant. The investigators will monitor intervention delivery by audio-recording staff interactions with study participants, and providing prompt feedback to research staff, if needed.

Intervention Delivery: These scripted counseling interventions were designed to be understood by those with no more than a fifth-grade education and to take less than 5 minutes to deliver. All research staff will be trained by the PI to ensure they understand the importance of maintaining the integrity of study group allocation and delivering only the assigned scripted counseling. After receiving their allocated counseling, participants will be emailed the images and script and encouraged to share this information with the people they anticipate receiving postpartum support from.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-08-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-10-20
• Study First Posted: 2020-10-26
• Study Start: 2021-02-01
• Primary Completion: 2022-12-01
• Study Completion: 2023-06-03
• Status Verified: 2025-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-01-15
• Last Update Posted: 2025-01-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 451

Inclusion Criteria

• Nulliparous women who are carrying a singleton pregnancy between 27-37 weeks gestation
• Born in the United States
• Aged 18-40 years
• Able to read English
• Have reliable access to a telephone that is able to send and receive text messages
• Have reliable access to a smart phone, tablet, computer, or other device with access to the internet

Exclusion Criteria

• Women carrying multiple gestations
• Diagnosed with HIV or are advised by a clinician not to breastfeed for any other reason
• Have undergone mastectomy or breast reduction surgery
• Unable to speak English, or who do not have a telephone or respond to text messages
• Carrying a surrogate pregnancy or are not planning to parent after giving birth
• Became pregnant through use of assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization (IVF)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Counseling about the Maternal Benefits of Breastfeeding	Breastfeeding	Participants will review a slide deck while receiving scripted counseling designed to increase understanding of the maternal health benefits of breastfeeding.
Counseling about the benefits of Smoke-free Homes	Smokefree Homes	Participants will review a slide deck while receiving scripted counseling designed to increase understanding of the health benefits of smoke free homes.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Duration of breastfeeding	at 6 months postpartum	Total number of weeks of breastfeeding

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Duration of any breastfeeding or pumping at 24 months postpartum	24 months postpartum	Investigators will compare the duration of any breastfeeding or pumping reported through 24 months
Knowledge of the maternal health benefits of lactation	1 month postpartum	Change in participant knowledge before and after receipt of this counseling intervention will be assessed by asking participants to respond (true, false, don't know) whether they believe Breastfeeding will...; 1. lower my risk of breast cancer.; 2. lower my risk of ovarian cancer.; 3. lower my risk of developing diabetes.; 4. increase my risk of a breast infection.; 5. increase my risk of depression \[reverse coded\]; 6. make it harder to "get my body back" after my baby is born. \[reverse coded\]; 7. protect my hands from arthritis.; 8. lower my blood pressure and risk of heart disease.; 9. lower my libido/sex drive.; 10. delay my menstrual period after my baby is born.; 11. save my family money."
Smoke-free home policy	1 month postpartum	Investigators will compare the proportion of individuals who have a "smoke-free" policy for their homes as assessed by responding with option "d" when presented with the following options "Which of the following statements best describes the rules about smoking inside your home now, even if no one who lives in your home is a smoker? Select ONE answer; 1. Smoking is permitted anywhere inside my home; 2. Smoking is permitted inside my home by an open window; 3. Smoking is allowed in some rooms or at some times; 4. No one is allowed to smoke anywhere inside my home

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

UC Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research; 🇺🇸 Sacramento, California, United States