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Breastfeeding Support in Neonatal Intensive Care: A National Survey

Måstrup, Ragnhild LU ; Bojesen, Susanne Norby ; Kronborg, Hanne and Hallström, Inger LU (2012) In Journal of Human Lactation 28(3). p.370-379
Abstract
Background: The incidence of breastfeeding of preterm infants is affected by the support provided at the hospital and in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). However, policies and guidelines promoting breastfeeding vary both nationally and internationally. Objectives: The aim of this survey was to describe breastfeeding support in Danish NICUs, where approximately 98% of mothers initiate lactation. Methods: A national survey of all 19 Danish NICUs was conducted in 2009. Four NICUs were at designated Baby-Friendly hospitals, and 5 had a lactation consultant. In all NICUs, it was possible for some parents to stay overnight; 2 units had short restrictions on parents' presence. Five NICUs had integrated postpartum care for mothers.... (More)
Background: The incidence of breastfeeding of preterm infants is affected by the support provided at the hospital and in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). However, policies and guidelines promoting breastfeeding vary both nationally and internationally. Objectives: The aim of this survey was to describe breastfeeding support in Danish NICUs, where approximately 98% of mothers initiate lactation. Methods: A national survey of all 19 Danish NICUs was conducted in 2009. Four NICUs were at designated Baby-Friendly hospitals, and 5 had a lactation consultant. In all NICUs, it was possible for some parents to stay overnight; 2 units had short restrictions on parents' presence. Five NICUs had integrated postpartum care for mothers. Breastfeeding policies, written guidelines, and systematic breastfeeding training for the staff were common in most NICUs. Seventeen NICUs recommended starting breast milk expression within 6 hours after birth, and mothers were encouraged to double pump. Most NICUs aimed to initiate skin-to-skin contact the first time the parents were in the NICU, and daily skin-to-skin contact was estimated to last for 2-4 hours in 63% and 4-8 hours in 37% of the units. The use of bottle-feeding was restricted. Conclusions: The Danish NICUs described the support of breastfeeding as a high priority, which was reflected in the recommended policies for breast milk pumping, skin-to-skin contact, and the parents' presence in the NICU, as well as in the restricted use of bottle-feeding. However, support varied between units, and not all units supported optimal breastfeeding. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
breastfeeding support, families, NICU, preterm infants, and evaluation, tools
in
Journal of Human Lactation
volume
28
issue
3
pages
370 - 379
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • wos:000306837300017
  • scopus:84864779106
  • pmid:22674965
ISSN
0890-3344
DOI
10.1177/0890334412440846
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Nursing (Closed 2012) (013065000)
id
e171a4e3-d2f1-4074-96c5-2786e36835a0 (old id 3151966)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:55:43
date last changed
2022-03-29 04:32:45
@article{e171a4e3-d2f1-4074-96c5-2786e36835a0,
  abstract     = {{Background: The incidence of breastfeeding of preterm infants is affected by the support provided at the hospital and in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). However, policies and guidelines promoting breastfeeding vary both nationally and internationally. Objectives: The aim of this survey was to describe breastfeeding support in Danish NICUs, where approximately 98% of mothers initiate lactation. Methods: A national survey of all 19 Danish NICUs was conducted in 2009. Four NICUs were at designated Baby-Friendly hospitals, and 5 had a lactation consultant. In all NICUs, it was possible for some parents to stay overnight; 2 units had short restrictions on parents' presence. Five NICUs had integrated postpartum care for mothers. Breastfeeding policies, written guidelines, and systematic breastfeeding training for the staff were common in most NICUs. Seventeen NICUs recommended starting breast milk expression within 6 hours after birth, and mothers were encouraged to double pump. Most NICUs aimed to initiate skin-to-skin contact the first time the parents were in the NICU, and daily skin-to-skin contact was estimated to last for 2-4 hours in 63% and 4-8 hours in 37% of the units. The use of bottle-feeding was restricted. Conclusions: The Danish NICUs described the support of breastfeeding as a high priority, which was reflected in the recommended policies for breast milk pumping, skin-to-skin contact, and the parents' presence in the NICU, as well as in the restricted use of bottle-feeding. However, support varied between units, and not all units supported optimal breastfeeding.}},
  author       = {{Måstrup, Ragnhild and Bojesen, Susanne Norby and Kronborg, Hanne and Hallström, Inger}},
  issn         = {{0890-3344}},
  keywords     = {{breastfeeding support; families; NICU; preterm infants; and evaluation; tools}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{370--379}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Journal of Human Lactation}},
  title        = {{Breastfeeding Support in Neonatal Intensive Care: A National Survey}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0890334412440846}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0890334412440846}},
  volume       = {{28}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}