Pilot test of a home-based program to prevent perceived insufficient milk.
PROBLEM
Although the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, only 22% of U.S. mothers do so. Mothers' perceived insufficient milk (PIM) is the primary reason for breastfeeding discontinuation globally. There are two changeable causes of PIM: (1) mothers' misinterpretation of their infant's behavior, and (2) mothers' lack of confidence in their ability to breastfeed.


AIM
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effect of a home-based intervention designed to prevent and/or reduce PIM.


METHODS
A mixed-methods, single-group, pretest-midtest-posttest design was used for evaluating a home-based breastfeeding program. The program was implemented during three 1.0- to 1.5-h home intervention sessions at 6, 13, and 27 days postpartum, delivered to 14 dyads of breastfeeding mothers and their full-term singleton infants.


FINDINGS
We found significant increases over time in mothers' sensitivity to infant behavior and breastfeeding self-efficacy as well as significant decreased attribution of infant crying to PIM. Exit interviews indicated that the program was accepted by participating mothers.


DISCUSSION
This is the first intervention study that has directly targeted the causes of PIM. The home-based intervention has the potential to add to maternal competencies both in correctly assessing their infants' behavior, thereby preventing erroneous attribution of infant behavior to PIM, as well as simultaneously bolstering maternal confidence in breastfeeding skills.


CONCLUSION
By building maternal competencies, the home-based intervention has a longer-range potential to prevent breastfeeding discontinuation. Further evaluation is warranted.
['Wood|Natsuko K|NK|', 'Sanders|Elizabeth A|EA|', 'Lewis|Frances M|FM|', 'Woods|Nancy F|NF|', 'Blackburn|Susan T|ST|']
D000328:Adult D001942:Breast Feeding D005260:Female D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D007231:Infant, Newborn D007774:Lactation D008895:Milk, Human D009035:Mothers D010465:Perception D010865:Pilot Projects D049590:Postpartum Period D020377:Self Efficacy D012938:Social Perception
Perceived insufficient milk Exclusive Breastfeeding Pilot study