Breast Feeding, Infant, Newborn, Medication Systems, Milk, Human
Conditions
Brief summary
Parents commonly find giving medicines to babies, using oral syringes or spoons, difficult and emotionally stressful. In developing countries, additional stress arises due to hygiene difficulties and the lack of clean water. To overcome these challenges and encourage breastfeeding, we have developed the concept of a Therapeutic Nipple Shield, a delivery system that makes it possible to give medicine and nutrients to babies during breastfeeding. It consists of a silicone nipple shield that allows the release of medicine/nutrients into human milk during the feed. Presentations of a prototype to parents and staff at the Rosie Hospital was very positive, and encouraged this clinical study. This study aims to give a vitamin B12 supplement to babies during breastfeeding. The supplement will be placed into a nipple shield, both of which are commercially available, and the mother will breastfeed her baby as usual. Before and after the feed, we will 1) collect a small blood sample from the baby to see whether the vitamin levels in the infant have increased, 2) ask the mother to participate in two short interviews about her expectations and experiences using the Therapeutic Nipple Shield.
Interventions
DEVICEDrug delivery during breastfeeding
This study aims to give a vitamin B12 supplement to babies during breastfeeding. 30 mother-infant pairs will be recruited. The supplement will be placed into a nipple shield, both of which are commercially available, and the mother will breastfeed her baby as usual. Before and after the feed, we will 1) collect a small blood sample from the baby to see whether the vitamin levels in the infant have increased, 2) ask the mother to participate in two short interviews about her expectations and experiences using the Therapeutic Nipple Shield.
Sponsors
University of Cambridge
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
DEVICE_FEASIBILITY
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
7 Days to 12 Months
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
No known allergy or hypersensitivity against any ingredient used in the study Infant aged up to 12 months Confident breastfeeder (exclusively or non-exclusively)
Exclusion criteria
The participant may not enter the study if ANY of the following apply: * Not confident at breastfeeding * Infant not feeding properly * Allergy or hypersensitivity against any ingredient of the commercially available Methylcobalamin Vitamin B12 Tablets (Just Vitamins Ltd, UK) used in the study (infant or mother) * Medical conditions that could negatively influence swallowing, and thus breastfeeding
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Detection of the change in vitamin B12 concentration in the infants' blood 6-8 hours following vitamin B12 delivery from a nipple shield device during breastfeeding | Blood sampling base line and 6-8 hours post feed | Two infant blood samples will be taken - one base line and one post intervention |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Qualitative assessment of impact on maternal expectation, experience and acceptability | Interviews will be conducted prior to and post interventional feed and will last about 30-50 min. | Semi-structured interviews will be conducted before and after vitamin B12 delivery during breastfeeding |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed