BEST ABCs: Benefits and Effectiveness of Support Offered Through A Breastfeeding Clinic Study

Currently, healthy mothers willing to breastfeed their babies are discharged from the hospital on an average 2 days after a vaginal delivery or 3.5 days after a C-section, at a time where breastfeeding is far to be well established. Following discharge, women can access breastfeeding support from Public Health Units, lactation consultants, health care providers, and Internet (e.g. from breastfeeding associations). Despite the current support, duration and exclusivity rates of breastfeeding drop precipitously in the first weeks and months after birth.

We have obtained funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to evaluate the efficacy and cost effectiveness of a post-partum clinic based in the community. This clinic, staffed by a family physician (in the morning), a registered nurse and a lactation consultant, will provide breastfeeding support during the first month after delivery as well as ensure a safe transition from hospital to the community for mothers and newborn babies. The clinic, affiliated with TOH, will be found at Harmony Medical Centre, 152 Cleopatra Drive, located south-west of downtown, a 15 minute drive from the Civic campus and 20 minutes from the General campus. The Harmony Clinic has abundant parking (free on the street or a small fee inside the associated lot) and is fully accessible.

In its initial phase, the future clinic would enroll only women willing to participate in a research program to evaluate this new program. The clinic will be opening in November 2013 and currently (July - October 2013) we are conducting a pilot study to test feasibility of recruitment and test the surveys and database for this project. Women will be recruited at the Ottawa Hospital (General and Civic campus) and randomized to either receive standard-care or to be given access to the post-partum clinic and be discharged within approximately 24 hours following a vaginal delivery or 48 hours following a C-section. They will have an appointment booked at the breastfeeding clinic within 48 hours after discharge for maternal and neonatal care as well as breastfeeding support. Enrolled women will have access to additional clinic visits for one month after delivery. Information will be collected from their medical chart as well as through surveys that will be sent to them at 15 days, 30 days and 3 months after delivery. We will compare the data and information on the experience of women who attended the breastfeeding clinic and those who did not attend the clinic. With this data we will be able to determine if this type of breastfeeding clinic is beneficial to new mothers and their newborn babies and if it really does increase the exclusive breastfeeding rate at 3 months (primary outcome).