Lori Feldman-Winter

Residency Curriculum Improves Breastfeeding Care

OBJECTIVES: Multiple studies have revealed inadequacies in breastfeeding education during residency, and results of recent studies have confirmed that attitudes of practicing pediatricians toward breastfeeding are deteriorating. In this we study evaluated whether a residency curriculum improved physician knowledge, practice patterns, and confidence in providing breastfeeding care and whether implementation of this curriculum was associated with increased breastfeeding rates in patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort of 417 residents was enrolled in a controlled trial of a novel curriculum developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics in conjunction with experts from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Family Physicians, and Association of Pediatric Program Directors. Six intervention residency programs implemented the curriculum, whereas 7 control programs did not. Residents completed pretests and posttests before and after implementation. Breastfeeding rates were derived from randomly selected medical charts in hospitals and clinics at which residents trained. RESULTS: Trained residents were more likely to show improvements in knowledge (odds ratio [OR]: 2.8 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5–5.0]), practice patterns related to breastfeeding (OR: 2.2 [95% CI: 1.3–3.7]), and confidence (OR: 2.4 [95% CI: 1.4–4.1]) than residents at control sites. Infants at the institutions in which the curriculum was implemented were more likely to breastfeed exclusively 6 months after intervention (OR: 4.1 [95% CI: 1.8–9.7]). CONCLUSIONS: A targeted breastfeeding curriculum for residents in pediatrics, family medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology improves knowledge, practice patterns, and confidence in breastfeeding management in residents and increases exclusive breastfeeding in their patients. Implementation of this curriculum may similarly benefit other institutions.

Safe Sleep and Skin-to-Skin Care in the Neonatal Period for Healthy Term Newborns

Skin-to-skin care (SSC) and rooming-in have become common practice in the newborn period for healthy newborns with the implementation of maternity care practices that support breastfeeding as delineated in the World Health Organization’s “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.” SSC and rooming-in are supported by evidence that indicates that the implementation of these practices increases overall and exclusive breastfeeding, safer and healthier transitions, and improved maternal-infant bonding. In some cases, however, the practice of SSC and rooming-in may pose safety concerns, particularly with regard to sleep. There have been several recent case reports and case series of severe and sudden unexpected postnatal collapse in the neonatal period among otherwise healthy newborns and near fatal or fatal events related to sleep, suffocation, and falls from adult hospital beds. Although these are largely case reports, there are potential dangers of unobserved SSC immediately after birth and throughout the postpartum hospital period as well as with unobserved rooming-in for at-risk situations. Moreover, behaviors that are modeled in the hospital after birth, such as sleep position, are likely to influence sleeping practices after discharge. Hospitals and birthing centers have found it difficult to develop policies that will allow SSC and rooming-in to continue in a safe manner. This clinical report is intended for birthing centers and delivery hospitals caring for healthy newborns to assist in the establishment of appropriate SSC and safe sleep policies.

Removal of Industry-Sponsored Formula Sample Packs from the Hospital: Does It Make a Difference?

Background: Most US hospitals distribute industry-sponsored formula sample packs. No research has examined outcomes associated with sample pack removal as part of a hospital intervention to eliminate sample distribution postpartum. Objective: To examine prospectively hospital-based and breastfeeding outcomes associated with removal of industry-sponsored formula sample packs from the hospital. Methods: We enrolled mothers postpartum at Cooper University Hospital, an urban New Jersey hospital, in 2009-2010. For the first 6 months, all women received industry-sponsored formula samples packs (control group); for the next 6 months, all postpartum women received hospital-sponsored bags with no formula at source (intervention group). Research assistants blinded to the design called subjects weekly for 10 weeks to determine feeding practices. Results: We enrolled 527 breastfeeding women (284 control; 243 intervention). At 10 weeks postpartum, 82% of control and 36% of intervention women (P < .001) reported receiving formula in the “diaper discharge bag.” Kaplan-Meyer curves for any breastfeeding showed the intervention was associated with increased breastfeeding (P = .03); however, exclusive breastfeeding was not significantly different between intervention and controls (P = .46). In post hoc analysis, receiving no take-home formula in bottles from the hospital was associated with increased exclusive breastfeeding in control (P = .02) and intervention (P = .03) groups at 10 weeks. Conclusion: Although the hospital-branded replacement contained no formula at source, many women reported receiving bottles of formula from the hospital. Change in practice to remove industry-sponsored formula sample packs was associated with increased breastfeeding over 10 weeks, but the intervention may have had a greater impact had it not been contaminated.

Hospital Education in Lactation Practices (Project HELP): Does Clinician Education Affect Breastfeeding Initiation and Exclusivity in the Hospital?

BACKGROUND A womans decision to breastfeed may be influenced by her health care practitioners, but breastfeeding knowledge among clinicians is often lacking. Project HELP (Hospital Education in Lactation Practices) was an intensive education program designed to increase breastfeeding knowledge among health care practitioners. The purpose of this study was to determine whether educating practitioners affected breastfeeding initiation and exclusivity rates at hospitals with low breastfeeding rates. METHODS Between March 31, 2005, and April 24, 2006, we taught courses at four Massachusetts hospitals with low breastfeeding rates. Each course consisted of three, 4-hour teaching sessions and was offered nine times. The training, taught by public health professionals, perinatal clinicians, and peer counselors, covered a broad range of breastfeeding-related topics, from managing hyperbilirubinemia to providing culturally competent care. Medical records of infants born before and after the intervention were reviewed to determine demographics and infant feeding patterns. RESULTS Combining data from all hospitals, breastfeeding initiation increased postintervention from 58.5 to 64.7 percent (p = 0.02). An overall increase in exclusive breastfeeding rates was not statistically significant. In multivariate logistic regression for all hospitals combined, infants born postintervention were significantly more likely to initiate breastfeeding than infants born preintervention (adjusted OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.03-1.69). CONCLUSIONS Intensive breastfeeding education for health care practitioners can increase breastfeeding initiation rates.

Neonatal Weight Loss at a US Baby-Friendly Hospital

Few if any studies have examined weight loss among term newborns by weighing infants daily for the first week of life. Perhaps because so few data exist, there is no standard in the United States for normal newborn weight loss. Our objective was to investigate normal newborn weight loss among infants born in a US Baby-Friendly hospital, by weighing infants daily for the first week of life. Using a prospective cohort design, infants born at an urban Boston, MA, hospital were enrolled within 72 hours of delivery and weighed daily for the first week of life. In hospital, infant weight was obtained from the medical record; post discharge, a research assistant visited the home daily and weighed the baby. All feeds in week 1 of life were recorded. Birth-related factors potentially affecting weight loss were abstracted from the medical record. Complete data were collected on 121 infants. Mean weight loss was 4.9% (range=0.0% to 9.9%); 19.8% (24 of 121) of infants lost >7% of their birth weight; no infant lost >10%. Maximum percent weight loss was significantly associated with feeding type: exclusively and mainly breastfed infants lost 5.5%, mainly formula-fed infants lost 2.7% and exclusively formula-fed infants lost 1.2% (P<0.001). Type of delivery and fluids received during labor were not associated with weight loss. Clinical practices at a Baby-Friendly hospital, which support and optimize breastfeeding, appear to be associated with only moderate weight loss in exclusively and mainly breastfed infants.

Frustrated, "Depressed," and "Devastated" Pediatric Trainees: US Academic Medical Centers Fail to Provide Adequate Workplace Breastfeeding Support

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is recommended until about 6 months of age. Pediatricians are at the forefront of encouraging mothers to achieve this goal, yet pediatricians who parent during their training may face substantial barriers in achieving their own breastfeeding goals. Objectives: This study aimed to assess breastfeeding support available to US pediatricians in training and the effect of trainees’ personal experiences on their attitude toward breastfeeding. Methods: An online survey was emailed to American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Medical Students, Residents, and Fellowship Trainees members. Results: There were 927 respondents, of which 421 had children and 346 breastfed their children. Almost 80% agreed that 6 months is the ideal duration for EBF. One in 4 did not have access to or were not aware of a private room to express milk or breastfeed. Forty percent needed to extend the duration of their training for a longer maternity leave, with breastfeeding a factor for longer leave among 44%. One in 4 did not meet their breastfeeding duration goal, and 1 in 3 did not meet their goal for EBF. Negative emotions were common among those not meeting goals. Ninety-two percent felt that their or their partner’s experience with breastfeeding affected their clinical interaction with patients’ mothers. Conclusion: A majority of respondents cited problems with breastfeeding support during training, and many failed to meet their intended goals. Not meeting personal breastfeeding goals was associated with negative emotions and influenced how they counsel about breastfeeding as a result of personal and often negative attitudes.

Determining Length of Breastfeeding Exclusivity Validity of Maternal Report 2 Years after Birth

Background: Infant feeding data are often collected retrospectively through maternal report. Validation studies show that maternal report of initiation and duration of any breastfeeding is accurate but that report of duration of exclusive breastfeeding may be less accurate. Objective: This study aimed to compare infant feeding data collected longitudinally throughout the first 6 months of life with maternal report of duration of exclusive breastfeeding collected 2 years postpartum. Methods: Infant feeding data were collected prospectively throughout the first 6 months of life from medical records and maternal report, including maternal 24-hour recall. At 2 years postpartum, we asked mothers of these same infants how long they exclusively breastfed their infants. Their responses were compared to the prospectively collected data. Simple and multiple linear regressions tested for any significant predictors of the difference between the prospectively collected data and maternal report at 2 years. Results: Of the 292 mothers included in the final analysis, only 88 (30.1%) mothers reported a duration of exclusive breastfeeding at 2 years postpartum that matched the prospectively collected data. Sixty-four women reported exclusively breastfeeding for the recommended 6 months (21.9%), but according to the prospectively collected data, only 2 women (0.7%) breastfed exclusively through 6 months. The median difference between the prospectively collected data and maternal report at 2 years was 1 month (IQR, 0-4). Conclusion: In this sample of mothers, report of exclusive breastfeeding practices 2 years after birth was often inaccurate and mothers tended to overestimate duration.

Evidence-based Interventions to Support Breastfeeding

Considerable progress has been made in the past decade in developing comprehensive support systems to enable more women to reach their breastfeeding goals. Given that most women in the United States participate in some breastfeeding, it is essential that each of these support systems be rigorously tested and if effective replicated. Additional research is needed to determine the best methods of support during the preconception period to prepare women to exclusively breastfeed as a cultural norm.

Best Fed Beginnings: A Nationwide Quality Improvement Initiative to Increase Breastfeeding

A nationwide QI initiative, entitled Best Fed Beginnings, nearly doubled the number of Baby-Friendly–designated hospitals in the United States and increased breastfeeding. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In response to a low number of Baby-Friendly–designated hospitals in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality to conduct a national quality improvement initiative between 2011 and 2015. The initiative was entitled Best Fed Beginnings and enrolled 90 hospitals in a nationwide initiative to increase breastfeeding and achieve Baby-Friendly designation. METHODS: The intervention period lasted from July 2012 to August 2014. During that period, data on process indicators aligned with the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and outcome measures (overall and exclusively related to breastfeeding) were collected. In addition, data on the Baby-Friendly designation were collected after the end of the intervention through April 2016. Hospitals assembled multidisciplinary teams that included parent partners and community representatives. Three in-person learning sessions were interspersed with remote learning and tests of change, and a Web-based platform housed resources and data for widespread sharing. RESULTS: By April 2016, a total of 72 (80%) of the 90 hospitals received the Baby-Friendly designation, nearly doubling the number of designated hospitals in the United States. Participation in the Best Fed Beginnings initiative had significantly high correlation with designation compared with hospital applicants not in the program (Pearson’s r [235]: 0.80; P < .01). Overall breastfeeding increased from 79% to 83% (t = 1.93; P = .057), and exclusive breastfeeding increased from 39% to 61% (t = 9.72; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A nationwide initiative of maternity care hospitals accomplished rapid transformative changes to achieve Baby-Friendly designation. These changes were accompanied by a significant increase in exclusive breastfeeding.

Concerns With Early Universal Iron Supplementation of Breastfeeding Infants

We have major concerns about universal iron supplementation at 4 months in breastfeeding infants, as recommended by Baker, Greer, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Nutrition.1 We point out that as a clinical recommendation for millions of infants, supplementary iron drops beginning at 4 months of age is inconsistent with previous recommendations from the AAP.2,–,4.The only supportive data for this recommendation come from a study in which …