None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim is to determine if professional advice for perceived insufficient milk supply results in a change in perception of milk supply, and whether objective measurement of milk supply before and after receiving professional advice shows a measurable difference in breastmilk production and affects the change in perception. When participants have a perception of insufficient breastmilk supply, we predict that there will be a significant change in the participants’ perceptions from before to after receiving advice from a lactation consultant, and there will be a measurable difference in milk production. We would like to know if objective measurement of milk production before and after following advice affects the change in perception.
Interventions
At the first consultation, all participants will complete a perception of milk supply questionnaire. Those with perceived insufficient milk supply will receive individual targeted care provided by the lactation consultants. The advice given will include one or more of: correcting positioning and attachment, changing feeding frequency, commencing or increasing breast expression, taking domperidone, or investigation of the need of the infant for frenotomy. The time allocated for the first consulta
At the first consultation, all participants will complete a perception of milk supply questionnaire. Those with perceived insufficient milk supply will receive individual targeted care provided by the lactation consultants. The advice given will include one or more of: correcting positioning and attachment, changing feeding frequency, commencing or increasing breast expression, taking domperidone, or investigation of the need of the infant for frenotomy. The time allocated for the first consultation is 2 hours. At the first consultation participants will be asked if they are willing to measure their 24-h milk profile. Those who agree will be randomised into either Group A or Group B (control). The randomisation codes will be in sealed, opaque envelopes that are opened in consecutive order only when the client has agreed to participate. Participants in Group A will measure their milk profile during one 24-hour period immediately after their first visit with the lactation consultant, and then again after 2-4 weeks of following the advice of the lactation consultant. They will then complete a second perception of milk supply questionnaire. All participants will attend the second (follow-up) consultation and questioned regarding compliance with advice given. For the 24-h milk profile, participants are loaned a set of BabyWeigh scales to weigh the baby in normal clothes before and after each breastfeed or supplementary feed. This is done in the participant's own home for 24 hours. The weights are entered on a secure website. Participants will also be asked to measure and enter the amount of any breastmilk expressed during that time
Sponsors
The University of Western Australia
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Mothers of infants less than 6 months old who are exclusively, fully or partially breastfeeding and perceive that they have an insufficient milk supply will be included. This will be determined by their response to the first question of the "Milk supply questionnaire" "I think I produce enough milk for my baby". If the response is "disagree" or "strongly disagree" they will be considered to have a perception of insufficient milk supply.
Exclusion criteria
Mothers and infants who are sick or would be unable to complete a background questionnaire
Outcome results
None listed