Furthering Our Understanding of the Needs of Mothers Who Are Pumping Breast Milk for Infants in the NICU

Abstract

The purpose of this integrative review was to uncover information regarding emotional and other types of support required by mothers providing breast milk for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). These high-risk infants are often unable to directly breastfeed and, thus, mothers need to pump their breast milk for weeks to months, which can be both a pleasing experience that increases satisfaction and infant involvement, while at the same time being an uncomfortable and tiring endeavor. Understanding this notion is important because pumping at least 8 times each day is central to increasing or maintaining breast milk production. Articles were gathered using PubMed and CINAHL databases. Forty-four sources were chosen for inclusion in this review. Search terms included "breastfeeding," "pumping," "neonatal intensive care unit," "emotional support," and "breast milk." We identified that the emotional and practical support for NICU mothers is different from those of other breastfeeding mothers, especially around the development of early bonding behaviors. These mothers require significant ongoing emotional support from healthcare professionals and their partners and peers. Healthcare providers need to monitor breast milk production and provide educated encouragement that anticipates breastfeeding challenges, especially when the mother is pumping for an extended period of time while their infant is maturing in the NICU. Effective providers' support may be best provided by selectively bundling interventions to support pumping initiation and transition to direct breastfeeding.

Caregiving Factors Affecting Breastfeeding Duration Within a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

“…[20][21][22] In addition, there is evidence that these processes also program the body for longterm milk production. [20][21][22] Thus, pumping for several weeks as opposed to a shorter duration of time decrease the odds that these vulnerable infants will reap the benefits of direct-to-breast feeding. Facilitating skin-to-skin contact has been found to increase breastmilk production and can be an opportunity for first suckling at the breast to occur -23 .…”

“…There are many reasons for diminished milk supply, we only address a few, such as the fact that while breast pumps are necessary, they may impede milk production [20][21][22] . For example, a breast pump cannot stimulate a mother's endocrine response in the same manner as a suckling baby.…”

Stillfortbildungen im Perinatalzentrum – ein systematischer Überblick

“…Die Mütter gaben an, Beratung durch Gesundheitspersonal als sehr hilfreich zu empfinden, und bemängelten, dass dafür zu wenig Zeit sei [4]. Lucas et al (2014) haben in einem Review herausgearbeitet, dass Pflegende der neonatologischen Intensivstation die Mütter emotional unterstützen. So werden die Bindung zum Baby und die Milchproduktion gefördert.…”

“…Die Mütter sind dabei nicht nur emotional von den Pflegenden abhängig. Auch in der Information, Beratung und Anleitung sind Pflegende der Neonatologie die ersten Ansprechpartner [5]. In einer Untersuchung von Jaeger, Lawson u. Filteau (1997) gab jedoch knapp die Hälfte der befragten Mütter an, widersprüchliche Aussagen von Pflegenden bezüglich des Pumpmanagements oder zum Anlegen erhalten zu haben [6].…”

Survey As a Contextual Design Method Applied to Breastfeeding Wearables for Mothers Caring for Infants in NICUs

“…[18]). Often mothers adjust their infant feeding plans due to their infant requiring NICU care [19], [20].…”