Does post-natal breastfeeding support improve rates of breastfeeding?

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Despite awareness of the advantages of breastfeeding, the rates often fall short of expected practice. In the Whittlesea area alone, the initial rate of breastfeeding is very high at >94% of newborn infants. However, rates drop by 30% at 8 weeks (2 months) post-birth. At The Northern Hospital, there are 2 support systems in place. This is in line with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) breastfeeding practices. First, all expecting mothers are invited to attend breastfeeding seminars prior to the delivery of their newborns. Secondly, TNH also has a breastfeeding clinic that runs daily and mothers can refer themselves to this clinic when and if they feel the need. However, there is a perception that once the mothers leave hospital, there is lack of breastfeeding support, so we feel that we need to do more to help promote breastfeeding. Our hypothesis was that breastfeeding rates can be improved with additional support and education from a lactation consultant. The study aims to determine if additional support for breastfeeding mothers after they leave hospital improves rates of breastfeeding. In this randomized controlled trial, participants will be randomized to either an intervention or a control group. In the intervention group, a LACTATION CONSULTANT will provide active communication and assistance via telephone to breastfeeding mothers, especially during the first 4 weeks after discharge and then again after 3 months and 6 months. In the control group, a LACTATION CONSULTANT will contact breastfeeding mothers via telephone after 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months to ask about breastfeeding activity/practices. At the end of the study, we will compare the rates of breastfeeding in mothers who received the intervention compared to the control group and determine whether additional assistance from lactation consultants is associated with longer breastfeeding duration.

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