To assist each participating mother to breastfeed successfully for the duration of time she sets as her personal goal; reducing the relative risk of early weaning for first-time breastfeeding mothers; investigated the efficacy of providing structured telephone support after discharge from the hospital, in a low risk population of first-time breastfeeding mothers Kent County Delaware.

Design: Evidence-based quality improvement project.

Patients/Participants:

Low-risk first-time breastfeeding mothers of term infants. First time breastfeeding mothers are particularly vulnerable to the risk of early weaning and lack of support plays a major role from birth to six months. 

Methods:

The project had two phases.  In phase 1, a retrospective chart audit was conducted to determine baseline breastfeeding rates at the time of hospital discharge among low-risk, first-time, non-military, non-WIC eligible women who delivered in the previous six months before introducing the translational intervention.  A brief telephone survey was conducted with the mothers to inquire about their duration of breastfeeding and obtain their perspective regarding breastfeeding support. In the phase 2, first-time breastfeeding mothers meeting the eligibility criteria, self-selected by completing the enrollment form; a telephone support intervention including weekly calls for three months, followed by monthly calls for three additional months, or until the mother weaned, which ever occurred first was implemented. Data obtained from the mothers were analyzed utilizing Ethnonursing methodology and descriptive statistics.

Implementation Strategies: First-time breastfeeding mothers meeting eligibility criteria, self-selected [N = 27]; Telephone Support provided by a lactation consultant included anticipatory guidance, education and empowerment through weekly phone calls for three months, then monthly  until the mother weaned or reached six months.

Results: At the conclusion of the program 100% of the participants met their goal, seventy-three percent were still breastfeeding at six months as compared to thirty-eight percent in the base-line group.

Conclusion/Implications for nursing practice: The provision of structured telephone support decreased the risk of early weaning, empowered participants to meet/overcome challenges, and to meet their stated goal. Nurses have an ethical responsibility to advocate for breastfeeding support programs that extend beyond the immediate postpartum period, and for working mothers include provisions that enhance and sustain the woman's breastfeeding efforts. Additional research and evidence-based projects are needed to actualize the Healthy People Breastfeeding Objectives. 

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Support, Duration, Lactation, Interventions