This study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived insufficient milk supply (PIMS) and actual insufficient milk supply (AIMS) and the relative contributions of physiological and psychosocial variables on both PIMS and AIMS of first-time breastfeeding mothers.
Participants and Methods:
Data were collected among 123 breastfeeding mothers at a Canadian, French-speaking maternal care hospital. Birth events, breastfeeding practices, infant and maternal capacities, and PIMS and AIMS were collected at 48 hours after birth, postnatal weeks 2 and 6.
Results:
No significant relationship was found between PIMS and AIMS. Maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy and number of feeds were related to PIMS at week 2, and skin-to-skin contact at birth and number of feeds were related to AIMS as measured by 24-hour milk production at week 2.
Conclusion:
Maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy impacts PIMS. Interventions should be directed to increase maternal confidence in breastfeeding, which in turn influences breastfeeding duration.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
VictoraCG, BahlR, BarrosAJD, et al.Breastfeeding in the 21st century: Epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet, 2016; 387:475–490.
RollinsNC, BhandariN, HajeebhoyN, et al.Why invest, and what it will take to improve breastfeeding practices?. Lancet, 2016; 387:491–504.
4.
GattiL. Maternal perceptions of insufficient milk supply in breastfeeding. J Nurs Scholarsh, 2008; 40:355–363.
5.
HauckY, FenwickJ, DhaliwalS, et al.Western Australian Survey of breastfeeding initiation, prevalence and early cessation patterns. Matern Child Health J, 2011; 15:260–268.
6.
BalogunOO, DagvadorjA, AnigoKM, et al.Factors influencing breastfeeding exclusivity during the first 6 months of life in developing countries: A quantitative and qualitative systematic review. Matern Child Nutr, 2015; 11:433–451.
7.
NeifertMR. Breastmilk transfer: Positioning, latch-on and screening for problems in milk transfer. Clin Obstet Gynecol, 2004; 47:656–675.
8.
KentJC, PrimeDK, GarbinCP. Principles for maintaining or increasing breast milk production. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 2012; 41:114–121.
9.
NevilleMC, MortonJ. Physiology and endocrine changes underlying human lactogenesis II. J Nutr, 2001; 131:3005S–3008S.
10.
WoolridgeMW. Breastfeeding: Physiology into practice. In: Nutrition in Child Health, DaviesDP, ed. London: Royal College of Physicians of London, 1995, pp. 13–31.
11.
McCarter-SpauldingDE, KearneyMH. Parenting self-efficacy and perception of insufficient milk supply. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 2001; 30:515–522.
12.
DykesF, WilliamsC. Falling by the wayside: A phenomenological exploration of perceived breast-milk inadequacy in lactating women. Midwifery, 1999; 15:232–246.
13.
GalipeauR. Modélisation de facteurs associés à une perception d'insuffisance lactée. Montreal: Nursing Faculty, University of Montreal, 2011.
14.
OtsukaK, DennisC-L, TatsuokaH, et al.The relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and perceived insufficient milk supply. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 2008; 37:546–555.
15.
RenfrewM, DysonL, WallaceL, et al.The Effectiveness of Public Health Interventions to Promote the Duration of Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review. London, UK: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2005.
16.
INSPQ. From Tiny Tot to Toddler. Fact Sheet for Nursing Mothers. Quebec: Quebec Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2016.
17.
MatthewsK. Developing an instrument to assess infant breastfeeding behaviour in the early neonatal period. Midwifery, 1988; 4:154–165.
18.
WolkeD. Mother and baby scales. In: Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale, BrazeltonTD, NugentJK, eds. London: Mac Keith Press, 1995, pp. 135–137.
19.
St. James-RobertsI, WolkeD. Convergences and discrepancies, among mothers' and professionals' assessments of difficult neonatal behaviour. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 1988; 29:21–42.
20.
DennisC-L. The breastfeeding self-efficacy scale: Psychometric assessment of the short form. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 2003; 32:734–744.
21.
EidelmanAI, SchanlerRJ, JohnstonM, et al.Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 2012; 129:e827–e841.
22.
HillPD, AldagJC, ChattertonC, et al.Primary and secondary mediator's influence on milk output in lactating mothers of preterm and term infants. J Hum Lact, 2005; 21:138–150.
23.
Noel-WeissJ, CourantG, WoodendAK. Physiological weight loss in the breastfeed neonate: A systematic review. Open Med, 2008; 2:99–110.
24.
DennisC-L. Theoretical underpinnings of breastfeeding confidence: A self- efficacy framework. J Hum Lact, 1999; 15:195–201.
25.
PalmérL, CarlssonG, BruntD, et al.Existential security is a necessary condition for continued breastfeeding despite severe initial difficulties: A lifeworld hermeneutical study. Int Breastfeed J, 2015; 10:1–11.
26.
KronborgH, HarderI, HallEOC. First time mothers' experiences of breastfeeding their newborn. Sex Reprod Healthc, 2015; 6:82–87.
27.
ForsterD, JohnsH, McLachlanH, et al.Feeding infants directly at the breast during the postpartum hospital stay is associated with increased breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum: A prospective cohort study. BMJ Open, 2015; 5:e007512.
28.
MatthiesenA, Ransjö-ArvidsonA, NissenE, et al.Postpartum maternal oxytocin release by newborns: Effects of infant hand massage and sucking…including commentary by Kennell JH and McGrath S. Birth, 2001; 28:13–21.
29.
Mikiel-KostyraK, MazurJ, BołtruszkoI. Effect of early skin-to-skin contact after delivery on duration of breastfeeding: A prospective cohort study. Acta Paediatr, 2002; 91:1301–1306.
30.
NakaoY, MojiK, HondaS, et al.Initiation of breastfeeding within 120 minutes after birth is associated with breastfeeding at four months among Japanese women: A self-administered questionnaire survey. Int Breastfeed J, 2008; 3:1–7.
31.
NolanA, LawrenceC. A pilot study of a nursing intervention protocol to minimize maternal-infant separation after Cesarean birth. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 2009; 38:430–442.
32.
RighardL, AladeMO. Effect of delivery room routines on success of first breast-feed. Lancet, 1990; 336:1105–1107.
33.
WidströmAM, LiljaG, Aaltomaa-MichaliasP, et al.Newborn behaviour to locate the breast when skin-to-skin: A possible method for enabling early self-regulation. Acta Paediatr, 2011; 100:79–85.
34.
WidströmAM, Thingström-PaulssonJ. The position of the tongue during rooting reflexes elicited in newborn infants before the first suckle. Acta Pædiatr, 1993; 82:281–283.
35.
BystrovaK, MatthiesenAS, WidströmAM, et al.The effect of Russian Maternity Home routines on breastfeeding and neonatal weight loss with special reference to swaddling. Early Hum Dev, 2007; 83:29–39.
36.
BystrovaK, MatthiesenA-S, VorontsovI, et al.Maternal axillar and breast temperature after giving birth: Effects of delivery ward practices and relation to infant temperature. Birth, 2007; 34:291–300.
37.
BystrovaK, WidstrõmA-M, MatthiesenA-S, et al.Early lactation performance in primiparous and multiparous women in relation to different maternity home practices. A randomised trial in St. Petersburg. Int Breastfeed J, 2007; 2:9–14.
38.
LeurerMD, MiskeyE. “Be positive as well as realistic”: A qualitative description analysis of information gaps experienced by breastfeeding mothers. Int Breastfeed J, 2015; 10:1–11.
