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The 'Earlybird' gets the breast milk: Findings from an evaluation of combined professional and peer support groups to improve breastfeeding duration in the first eight weeks after birth

Kruske, Sue, Schmied, Virginia and Cook, Margaret (2007). The 'Earlybird' gets the breast milk: Findings from an evaluation of combined professional and peer support groups to improve breastfeeding duration in the first eight weeks after birth. Maternal & Child Nutrition,3(2):108-119.

Document type: Journal Article
Citation counts: TR Web of Science Citation Count  Cited 2 times in Thomson Reuters Web of Science Article | Citations
Scopus Citation Count Cited 4 times in Scopus Article | Citations

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ISI LOC 000244744400004
IRMA ID 79260824xPUB16
Title The 'Earlybird' gets the breast milk: Findings from an evaluation of combined professional and peer support groups to improve breastfeeding duration in the first eight weeks after birth
Author Kruske, Sue
Schmied, Virginia
Cook, Margaret
Journal Name Maternal & Child Nutrition
Publication Date 2007
Volume Number 3
Issue Number 2
ISSN 1740-8695   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-33947183379
Start Page 108
End Page 119
Total Pages 12
Place of Publication United Kingdom
Publisher Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Field of Research 1111 - Nutrition and Dietetics
1114 - Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract Australia has high initiation rates of breastfeeding but the challenges of establishing and maintaining breastfeeding in the first few months of infant life result in many women changing to artificial formula feeding. This paper reports on the impact of a new strategy to improve breastfeeding duration rates in the first eight weeks post partum. The Earlybird program combines the professional expertise of child and family health (C&FH) nurses with the expertise of the participating mothers to support each other in establishing breastfeeding in the first eight weeks. A retrospective study compared the breastfeeding patterns of first time mothers who attended the Earlybird program, with the breastfeeding patterns of mothers who accessed individual appointments with the nurses in a 12 month period and examined the predictors of continued breastfeeding at eight weeks. The total sample comprised of 193 infant records. Women who selected the Earlybird program were more likely to be employed and less likely to be categorised as non-English speaking background. These women also had more visits to the C&FH service. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with breastfeeding cessation at eight weeks postnatal. After adjusting for variables, only exclusive breastfeeding at first visit and attending the Earlybird program were significant predictors of continuing to breastfeed at eight weeks. Facilitation skills that recognise the expertise of participating women were considered an important aspect of the program.
Keywords Breastfeeding
Child and family health nurses
Parent groups
Facilitation
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8709.2007.00078.x   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
Additional Notes Preprint pages 1-31


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