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Background: The benefits of breastfeeding are well recognized. However, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates are well below the Healthy People 2030 Guidelines, with a rapid drop in exclusive breastfeeding over the first 3 months of life. Although breastfeeding support has increased the initiation of breastfeeding, the role of perinatal interventions, particularly in the context of breastfeeding support, remains a topic of contradiction. Methods: This observational study was designed to assess the impact of a unique prenatal educational intervention in rural East Texas. The study had two aims: (1) to determine whether the addition of prenatal breastfeeding education increased the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at four time points, and (2) to assess the impact of hand expression education on breastfeeding exclusivity. Results: Differences in breastfeeding behaviors were seen between those who received the education and those who did not for exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding. Participants who received the hand expression education were 1.79 times more likely to continue EBF practices at three months postpartum, 6.27 times more likely to continue EBF practices at six months postpartum, and 3.34 times more likely to continue breastfeeding at twelve months postpartum than those who did not receive any hand expression education. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that prenatal education is beneficial for increasing breastfeeding exclusivity and duration and underscores its potential to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Further research is needed to resolve the ongoing debate and advance our understanding of interventions to increase breastfeeding duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses that the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced unforeseen challenges in the delivery of lactation training, education, and skilled support worldwide. It mentions that the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed global recommendations for the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding when COVID-19 is suspected or confirmed.

Background High rates of early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding have been reported in Malawi, yet the underlying factors are unknown. Our objective is to examine the determinants of breastfeeding practices for mothers of infants less than 24 months old in Malawi. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using nationally representative data from the 2010 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used. Results Of 7282 women, 95.4% initiated breastfeeding within 1 hour after birth; thereafter 71.3% of women practiced exclusive breastfeeding, 6.1% predominantly breastfed, and 1.9% chose bottle feeding exclusively. The odds of early initiation were higher among women with frequent antenatal care visits and multiparous mothers. Similarly, frequent antenatal care visits and hospital delivery were positive determinants for exclusive breastfeeding. Infants at 6 months of age were more likely to predominantly breastfeed than they were at 1 month. The odds of bottle feeding were higher among women who were educated, who delivered at a hospital. Conclusions Optimal breastfeeding practices are highly prevalent in Malawi. Health care practice emphasizing frequent antenatal care visits that provide breastfeeding education and breastfeeding support in hospital care after childbirth are important for sustaining breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Comprehensive prenatal education on infant feeding is recommended by many United States health organizations because of the need to maximize maternal preparedness for managing lactation physiology. Ready, Set, BABY (RSB) is a curriculum developed for counseling women about breastfeeding benefits and management including education on optimal maternity care practices. We hypothesized that RSB would be acceptable to mothers and that mothers' strength of breastfeeding intentions would increase, and their comfort with the idea of formula feeding would decrease after educational counseling using the materials. We also hypothesized that mothers' knowledge of optimal maternity care practices would increase after participation. Methods: Materials were sent to a total of seven sites in the United States and Puerto Rico. Local health care practitioners completed training before counseling mothers with the curriculum. A pre‐ and postintervention questionnaire was administered to participants. Statistical analysis of results included paired t tests, Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests, and McNemar's tests. Results: Four hundred and sixteen expectant women participated. In the pre‐ and postintervention comparison, maternal participation in RSB significantly improved Infant Feeding Intentions Scale scores (P < 0.001) and knowledge of Baby‐Friendly recommended maternity care practices (P < 0.001), while significantly decreasing comfort with the idea of formula feeding (P < 0.001). The education materials were positively rated by participants. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the approach of using RSB in prenatal counseling group classes or individual sessions improves breastfeeding intentions. Future testing is needed to determine the effectiveness of the materials for impacting breastfeeding outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This project trialed the breastfeeding control (BFC) scale of the Breastfeeding Attrition Prediction Tool (BAPT) to identify mothers at high risk to wean early and to determine the effectiveness of a prenatal consult with a lactation support person on breastfeeding duration and intensity. Results indicated that mothers with lower scores on the BAPT-BFC scale showed a trend for decreased breastfeeding intensity at 8 weeks postpartum. Experimental and control groups had similar BAPT-BFC scores and breastfeeding intensity at 8 weeks. Overall, women who had low BAPT-BFC scores tended to be breastfeeding less at 8 weeks compared with mothers who scored very high. This finding would suggest the BAPT-BFC is a helpful tool for predicting breastfeeding success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]