Breast milk expression for premature infant in the neonatal intensive care unit: A review of mothers’ perceptions

Bakar, Siti Azuna Abu; Muda, Siti Mariam; Arifin, Siti Roshaidai Mohd; Ishak, Shareena

doi:10.1016/j.enfcli.2019.06.012

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The sample consisted of mothers of extremely, very, and moderately preterm infants with gestational ages of 24 to 36 weeks and birth weights of 660 to 1800 g. We found that breastfeeding a very small preterm infant is a challenging and exhausting experience for the mothers. In line with prior research, 12,17,22,31,32 establishing and maintaining milk expression was a constant worry for most of these participating mothers of preterm infants during admission in NICU.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

“…Thus, most of them experienced physical exhaustion, stress, and breast pain due to their frequent and continuous expression of breast milk. 12,32 We found that expressing was a frustrating process when the mothers produced scant amounts of milk. Moreover, they had to do hand expressing, which exacerbated the problem.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies describe how stress and tiredness are associated with lower success in producing adequate volumes of milk by mothers of preterm infants. 3,32 Nevertheless, mothers continue to express milk, knowing that their infants are receiving their own mother's milk through tube feeding. Mӧrelius et al 21 emphasize that for most mothers the difficulties surrounding milk expression are overshadowed by the emotional obligation they feel toward their preterm infants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tube Feeding Practices and Transition to Breastfeeding Experiences of Mothers of Preterm Infants at a Kangaroo Mother Care Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in South Africa

Madiba

Sengane

2021

Global Pediatric Health

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To receive human milk, most preterm infants initially receive the mothers’ expressed milk through a nasogastric tube. However, breast milk feeding the preterm infant and making the transition to direct breast-feeding come with significant challenges. The study explored and described the experiences of mothers of preterm infants regarding initiation and expressing breast milk, tube feeding practices, and transition to breastfeeding during the infants’ stay in a kangaroo care unit (KMC) of an academic hospital in South Africa. Using a qualitative design, focus group interviews were conducted with 38 mothers of preterm infants after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We analyzed transcripts following the 5 steps for qualitative thematic data analysis. Tube feeding and breastfeeding preterm infants was challenging and exhausting for the mothers. Many described their experiences of initiating expression and sustaining milk supply as negative. They had constant concerns about their ability to produce adequate milk volumes to feed their infants. They had immense dislike of expressing, which they described as physically exhausting, stressful, and painful. Those who had initiated breastfeeding were highly motivated to breastfeed their preterm infants. They described breastfeeding as a positive bonding experience that they derived pleasure from. The mothers’ dislike of expressing was overshadowed by their emotional obligation toward their preterm infants. Although the KMC unit promotes breastfeeding, mothers encountered problems and struggled to initiate expression and sustain milk production. Mothers of extreme and very preterm infants need support to continue with milk expression during the long NICU and KMC stay.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tube Feeding Practices and Transition to Breastfeeding Experiences of Mothers of Preterm Infants at a Kangaroo Mother Care Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in South Africa

Madiba

Sengane

2021

Global Pediatric Health

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“…A qualitative review of mothers' perception of breastmilk expression for the premature infant in neonatal care intensive unit 21 has synthesized three main themes: maternal changes, pumping challenges, and motivation. A further review that explores the richness of complexity of mothers' practices, experiences and perceptions in milk expression is needed to enable decision-making among mothers to achieve their breastfeeding target.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Milk Expression Practices, Experiences and Perceptions among Mothers: A Systematic Literature Review

Mohamad Alwi,

Sulaiman,

Tengku Ismail

2023

imjm

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Human milk expression is commonly practiced among breastfeeding mothers. Their practices, experiences, and perceptions varies due to many underlying environments and issues. This review describes practices, experiences, and perceptions of mothers in expressing milk. Literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed articles on milk expression using Scopus, Krisalis Discovery, CINAHL, and PubMed from 2010 to 2020 for qualitative and mixed studies. This review and reporting was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Screening and selection of articles were conducted using Distiller Systematic Review (DSR). Twenty-two qualitative studies were identified focusing on the milk expression practices, experiences, and perceptions of mothers. Their practices indicated time, duration and method of milk expression. The experiences found were on the reasons, challenges, coping strategies and motivations. The perceptions on milk expression were found to influence the experience and practices of milk expression. Human milk expression practices, experiences and perceptions have been highlighted in many studies; however, there is no clear association between practices, experiences and perception.

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Achieving sufficient milk supply supports mothers to cope with premature birth

Schwab,

Wullenkord,

Ohnhäuser

et al. 2024

Acta Paediatrica

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AimTo explore whether and how expressing breast milk is perceived as helpful in coping with negative emotions due to premature birth by mothers of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.MethodsQualitative interviews and a retrospective cross‐sectional questionnaire with mothers of VLBW infants were conducted and analysed using an exploratory sequential mixed‐method design. Hypotheses were built using qualitative content analysis and quantitatively tested using multivariate regression analysis.ResultsInterviews with 12 mothers and questionnaires of 518 mothers were analysed. Coping with prematurity by expressing milk was seen as a way to maintain the caregiving role for the mothers, where three relevant factors arouse: making up for what happened, providing the best for their infant and fear of low milk supply. Quantitative analysis showed that mothers with a high milk supply (Coef. = 1.1, p < 0.000) and more feelings of guilt due to premature birth (Coef. = −0.1; p = 0.015) perceived expressing breast milk significantly more as a resource for coping.ConclusionThis study adds knowledge on how expressing breast milk for their VLBW infant may support mothers in coping with premature birth, by revealing the association with milk supply and feelings of guilt due to premature birth.

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Breast milk expression for premature infant in the neonatal intensive care unit: A review of mothers’ perceptions

Cited by 3 publications

References 17 publications

Tube Feeding Practices and Transition to Breastfeeding Experiences of Mothers of Preterm Infants at a Kangaroo Mother Care Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in South Africa

Tube Feeding Practices and Transition to Breastfeeding Experiences of Mothers of Preterm Infants at a Kangaroo Mother Care Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in South Africa

Human Milk Expression Practices, Experiences and Perceptions among Mothers: A Systematic Literature Review

Achieving sufficient milk supply supports mothers to cope with premature birth

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