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  • Original Article
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A well-baby peer counseling program is not associated with human milk receipt in the NICU

Journal of Perinatology volume 36, pages 758–762 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

Evaluate the impact of a non-neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)-specific peer counseling (PC) program on the cessation of human milk receipt at and post-NICU discharge.

Study Design:

A multivariable logistic regression model used data from 400 mother–infant dyads from a level IV NICU to compare cessation of human milk receipt at NICU discharge by PC program status. Kaplan–Meier distributions and a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model assessed the relationship between participants/non-participants and cessation of human milk post-NICU discharge.

Results:

No statistically significant differences between groups in cessation of human milk either by or post-discharge were observed. Identified variables associated with the outcome(s) of interest included maternal and infant age, length of stay, presence of a breastfeeding duration goal and frequency of NICU lactation consultant contact.

Conclusion:

Exposure to a non NICU-specific PC program was not associated with human milk receipt either by or post-NICU discharge.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the assistance provided by Kelsey Smith for data management and by Meghan DeMatta and Julia Woods for data entry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Research, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA

    E Cornell & T Lerer

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA

    T Lerer, J I Hagadorn & E Brownell

  3. Division of Neonatology, Connecticut Human Milk Research Center, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA

    J I Hagadorn, M Lussier & E Brownell

  4. Springfield College, Springfield, MA, USA

    D J Chapman

Authors
  1. E Cornell
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  2. T Lerer
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  3. J I Hagadorn
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  4. D J Chapman
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  5. M Lussier
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  6. E Brownell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E Brownell.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Perinatology website

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Cornell, E., Lerer, T., Hagadorn, J. et al. A well-baby peer counseling program is not associated with human milk receipt in the NICU. J Perinatol 36, 758–762 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2016.75

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2016.75

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