Professional lactation counseling and support for increasing the rate and duration on breastfeeding

Abstract

Breast milk is well recognized as the best natural food for infants and is also known to provide immediate and long-term health benefits for infants. According to the Baby- Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association, the breastfeeding initiation rate in Hong Kong has been continuously increasing. For duration of breastfeeding, World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months and the introduction of complementary food should start since the age of two. Despite active promotion of breastfeeding up to 6 months, the exclusive breastfeeding rate is still low and women in Hong Kong generally stop breastfeeding within the first few months.

The Department of Health in Hong Kong facilitates a supportive environment in all Maternal and Child Health centres to promote breastfeeding. To support mothers exclusively breastfeed for the first six months, a structured individualized lactation counseling and support is worth to implement when mothers are discharged from hospital around 48 hours and transfer to primary care. The individualized lactation counseling provides latching technique to ensure proper attachment and positioning to prevent early complications at the early postnatal. It also continues to follow up until 1-to-2 weeks after delivery.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the individualized professional lactation counseling and support at early postnatal periods to prolong the duration of breastfeeding. Eight studies were identified after comprehensive literature review and the quality of these studies was assessed. An evidence-based guideline was developed based on the analyzed research findings. The implementation and evaluation of the proposed guideline were compiled in this translational research.

An evidence-based guideline for providing individualized lactation counseling and support was developed to help health professionals to provide competent and effective breastfeeding counseling to mothers. The purpose of the guideline is to encourage mothers to breastfeed up to six months.