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Impact of NICU admission on Colorado-born late preterm infants: breastfeeding initiation, continuation and in-hospital breastfeeding practices

Journal of Perinatology volume 38, pages 557–566 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

Compare breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates, and in-hospital breastfeeding practices, of late preterm infants (LPIs) cared for in a NICU versus those cared for exclusively in the nursery (non-NICU).

Study design:

Using data from the 2009–2014 Colorado Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), breastfeeding initiation, continuation, and in-hospital breastfeeding practices of NICU versus non-NICU LPIs (34 0/7 to 36 6/7 weeks gestation, n = 20,767) were analyzed, and multivariate models were created controlling for maternal and infant characteristics.

Results:

Mothers of NICU LPIs were equally likely to initiate breastfeeding (APR 1.0; 95% CI 0.95–1.06) but less likely to continue breastfeeding at 10 weeks (APR 0.86; 95% CI 0.76–0.99) compared to mothers of non-NICU LPIs. Mothers of NICU LPIs were less likely to breastfeed in the hospital, less likely to be told to feed infants on demand, and more likely to be given a breast pump during hospitalization.

Conclusions:

There are significant differences in both breastfeeding continuation and several in-hospital breastfeeding practices for NICU versus non-NICU LPIs. Further research is needed so that targeted policies and programs can be developed to improve breastfeeding rates in this vulnerable population.

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Acknowledgements

Thank you to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado PRAMS working group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA

    Kathleen E. Hannan & Sunah S. Hwang

  2. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO, USA

    Ashley L. Juhl

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  1. Kathleen E. Hannan
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Correspondence to Kathleen E. Hannan.

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:The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Hannan, K.E., Juhl, A.L. & Hwang, S.S. Impact of NICU admission on Colorado-born late preterm infants: breastfeeding initiation, continuation and in-hospital breastfeeding practices. J Perinatol 38, 557–566 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0042-x

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