Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association
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The effect of breastfeeding education on breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of nurses in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was evaluated. NICU nurses (intervention) and pediatric nurses (untreated control) working at a northeastern US children's hospital participated in the pretest/posttest design study. Both groups answered the same breastfeeding questionnaire on 2 occasions. ⋯ Comparison groups were similar at pretest on demographic variables and remained so despite attrition between pretesting and posttesting. A significant increase (P < .001) occurred in NICU nurses' breastfeeding knowledge after the education session. Findings suggest that an educational intervention has potential for improving NICU nurses' knowledge and certain attitudes about breastfeeding but may not alter other attitudes of interest in the desired direction.
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Based on this more thorough assessment, the lactation consultant may be able to identify all of the factors contributing to this complex case. In some situations, her skilled interventions will suffice once the underlying problem is addressed. Occasionally, she will identify a factor that falls outside of her area of expertise; when this happens, she must make the appropriate referrals. ⋯ Not only are patience, dedication, time, and skills needed, but there are often multiple underlying problems that need to be solved. With a thorough assessment and appropriate use of skills and equipment by the lactation consultant, success is much more likely. This particular dyad should be able to acheive an exclusive breastfeeding relationship.
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We examined the relationship of labor pain relief medications with neonatal suckling and breastfeeding duration in 129 mothers delivering vaginally. Suckling was measured using the Infant Breastfeeding Assessment Tool (IBFAT). Controlling for infant age, birthweight, and gender, infants of unmedicated mothers had higher IBFAT suckling scores than those of medicated mothers (x = 11.1 vs. x = 8.2 respectively, P = .001). ⋯ Mothers evaluated their breastfeeding similarly to nurse evaluators (Z = 9.39, P = .001). Breastfeeding duration did not differ between unmedicated and medicated groups; however, dyads with low IBFAT scores weaned earlier than those with medium or high scores. Labor pain relief medications diminish early suckling but are not associated with duration of breastfeeding through 6 weeks postpartum.