References for:

D. Supporting Early Postpartum Attachment

1A. Select a birthing environment that clearly supports the infant-parent attachment process.
  1. This environment offers support for successful breastfeeding by responding to the baby's cues to nurse and by giving no artificial teats, pacifiers, food, or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated.
    2.

References:

  1. Aarts, C., Hornell, A., Kylberg, E., Hofvander, Y., & Gebre-Medhin, M. (1999). Breastfeeding patterns in relation to thumb sucking and pacifier use. Pediatrics, 104 (4), e50. (abstract)
  2. Wright, A., Rice, S., & Wells, S. (1996). Changing hospital practices to increase the duration of breastfeeding. Pediatrics, 97(5), 669. (abstract)

Abstract 1:

Aarts, C., Hornell, A., Kylberg, E., Hofvander, Y., & Gebre-Medhin, M. (1999). Breastfeeding patterns in relation to thumb sucking and pacifier use. Pediatrics, 104 (4), e50.

Premise: More frequent use of pacifiers has been associated with a shorter total period of breastfeeding among the infants of mothers who are highly motivated to breastfeed.

Research Question: Do pacifier use and thumb sucking influence breastfeeding patterns in exclusively breastfed infants?

Background: Nonnutritive sucking habits have been studied extensively. Several studies have shown that pacifier use and thumb sucking have a negative effect on the duration of breastfeeding.

Subjects: A total of 506 mother-infant pairs recruited from Uppsala, Sweden, between May 1989 and December 1992.

Study Design: A descriptive study with a longitudinal prospective design. The mother-infant pairs were followed from the first week after delivery until the mothers’ second menstruation postpartum or a new pregnancy.

Findings: Pacifier use was associated with suboptimal breastfeeding patterns and affected the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the total breastfeeding duration. Thumb sucking was not shown to be a factor in breastfeeding patterns.

Research reviewed by Judy Mirmelstein, RN, while a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing, in Richmond, VA.

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Abstract 2:

Wright, A., Rice, S., & Wells, S. (1996). Changing hospital practices to increase the duration of breastfeeding. Pediatrics, 97(5), 669.

Premise: Breastfeeding duration and exclusive breastfeeding are negatively associated with pacifier use, formula feeding, and receiving formula samples or coupons.

Research Question: Will changing hospital practices increase the duration of breastfeeding?

Background: Efforts to support breastfeeding were developed by instituting a list of 10 research-supported practices, the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative's

LINK: http://www.naturalchild.com/advocacy/worldwide/baby-friendly_hospital.html

(BFHI) Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Changing hospital practices could have a significant impact on breastfeeding patterns.

Subjects: In 1990, 192 mothers participated in the first half of the study. In 1993, after the implementation of policy changes to support breastfeeding, 392 mothers participated shortly after giving birth and 192 mothers participated four months later.

Study Design: The baseline study included interviews with women who gave birth in 1990 at a maternity ward. The study period in 1993 took place after the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding were implemented. This included a reevaluation of how the ten steps policy affected initiation and duration of breastfeeding.

Findings: As a result of the policy changes, more mothers nursed their babies and more mothers received assistance with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding duration was positively associated with no pacifiers. Pacifiers were associated with shorter breastfeeding duration.

Research reviewed by Judy Mirmelstein, RN, while a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing, in Richmond, VA.

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