Professionals Category > Breastfeeding Review Journal

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Back Issue Vol 14 No 1 March 2006 Breastfeeding a preterm infant and the objectification of breastmilk Linda Sweet Abstract This paper presents the theme of objectification of breastmilk, which results from long-term breast expression by parents of hospitalised very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants. An interpretive phenomenological study, involving 17 Australian parents was undertaken to explore parents' experiences of breastfeeding very low birth weight preterm infants from birth to twelve months of age. The discussion presented here is elicited from 45 individual interviews held with both mothers and fathers, which were then transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Objectification of breastmilk was one of the prevalent themes throughout all of the interviews. The effects of this objectification on the parents and their lactational experience will be discussed. Objectification of the breastfeeding experience, it will be shown, is incongruent with the parents' expectations and has a negative impact on their breastfeeding experience. Breastfeeding Review: 14(1): 5-13 Keywords: breastfeeding, breastmilk, breast expression, objectification, preterm Lactation courses and other events Breastfeeding influences on growth and health at one year of age Wendy H Oddy, Jane A Scott, Kathleen I Graham and Colin W Binns Abstract Our aim was to determine whether a longer duration of full breastfeeding in early infancy acts positively upon health outcomes. Women participating in a birth cohort study in Perth, Australia were followed-up at regular intervals to 52 weeks. Infant feeding, socio-demographic and health-related data were collected. Infants fully breastfed for less than four weeks compared to infants fully breastfed for four weeks or longer had more health problems (odds ratio (OR) 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00, 2.08; P = 0.048), more doctor visits (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.04, 2.33; P = 0.032) and poorer maternal rating of child health (OR 2.42; 95% CI 1.44, 4.06; P = 0.001) at four weeks. By 52 weeks, formula-fed infants were heavier (10138 g vs 9731 g, P = 0.041) and longer (75.6 cm vs 73.7 cm, P = 0.001) than breastfed infants with early regular formula feeding associated with more overweight (P = 0.011). An adverse effect of formula milk on infant health and postnatal weight gain remains of public health relevance. Breastfeeding Review: 14(1): 15-23 Keywords: breastfeeding, infant formula feeding, child health, child overweight The ten steps to successful breastfeeding in Australian hospitals Ava D Walsh, Jan Pincombe and Georgina E Stamp Abstract Breastfeeding is universally acknowledged as important for the well-being of mothers and babies. The ten steps to successful breastfeeding have been promoted as a means of improving breastfeeding initiation and maintenance. This study aimed to assess the degree of implementation of the ten steps within Australian maternity hospitals and collect breastfeeding rates at discharge. A 55-item questionnaire, modified for Australian conditions, was mailed to all Australian hospitals listed as providing maternity care in the 1998 Hospital and Health Services Yearbook. Of 432 hospitals currently providing maternity care, 387 (90%) responded. High rates of implementation of steps 1a, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 were reported. The mean rate of women breastfeeding at discharge, from 283 responses, was 88%. Australian hospitals compare favorably with similar studies in international environments. Results from this study may be used to target areas for improvements in steps 1b, 2, 7 and 10. Australia-wide breastfeeding rates at discharge have not changed since 1983. Breastfeeding Review: 14(1): 25-31 Keywords: ten steps, breastfeeding, Australian hospitals, baby friendly hospital initiative Research Summaries Book Review Index