Breastfeeding Preterm Infants - The Efficacy of Internet-based Peer Support

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Breast Feeding; Infant, Premature
• Interventions: Behavioral: Breastfeeding peer support

• Registration Number: NCT02580786
• Lead Sponsor: University of Turku

Brief Summary

This study examines if the internet-based peer support has an effect on the breastfeeding attitude or the duration of breastfeeding in preterm infants and their mothers compared with mothers with routine care. The factors associated with the initiation of breastfeeding in the neonatal intensive care unit will be determined. In addition, the perceptions of the mothers of preterm infants about their needs and problems when breastfeeding their preterm infants are described.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-06
• Primary Completion: 2015-05
• Study Completion: 2015-05
• Status Verified: 2015-10
• Study First Submitted: 2015-10-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-10-19
• Study First Posted: 2015-10-20
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-10-21
• Last Update Posted: 2015-10-22

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 124

Inclusion Criteria

• Mothers giving birth before full 35 gestational weeks in a study hospital

Exclusion Criteria

• The mother not able to speak Finnish
• The infant's condition is critical (based on the paediatrician),
• The mother has a syndrome or illness preventing breastfeeding

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Breastfeeding peer support	Breastfeeding peer support	Internet-based breastfeeding peer-support group in social media (Facebook). The mothers are allowed to use the group based on their individual needs from the recruitment to the first birthday of their child. Peer support is provided by three voluntary mothers. The mothers can discuss breastfeeding-related issues and ask questions. A midwife will moderate the group.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Duration of breastfeeding	12 months
Breastfeeding attitude with Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale	6 months	Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) is used to measure breastfeeding attitude

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Duration of expressing milk	12 months
Initiation of breastfeeding (postnatal age of the preterm infant)	2 months	The postnatal age (days), when the preterm infant initiates breastfeeding for the first time, is measured