A Randomized Control Trial of Early Breast Milk Pumping Interventions for Mothers of Moderately Preterm Infants

Abstract

Objective:

To compare the effectiveness of different breast pumping interventions in breastfeeding for preterm mothers during the first 14 days postpartum.

Study Design:

In a single center, 69 preterm mothers were randomly allocated into three groups. Experimental Group 1 used a hospital-grade electric breast pump from postpartum days 1 to 14. Experimental Group 2 used a hospital-grade electric breast pump from postpartum days 1 to 5 and a personal standard bilateral electric breast pump from postpartum days 6 to 14. The control group used a personal standard bilateral electric breast pump from postpartum days 1 to 14. This study compared daily breast milk volume, time to lactogenesis II, and proportions of exclusive breast milk at 7 days, 3 months, and 6 months postdischarge.

Results:

The median daily milk volume was significantly higher in the experimental groups than in the control group from postpartum day 5 to day 14 (p < 0.05). Milk volume on postpartum days 5 and 14 showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.74). The mean onset of lactogenesis II for all participants was 52.91 ± 17.30 hours, with significant differences among the groups (p = 0.018). Exclusive breast milk proportions were significantly higher in the experimental groups at 7 days and 3 months postdischarge (p < 0.05) but did not differ at 6 months (p = 0.143).

Conclusions:

Early use of a hospital-grade electric breast pump (within the first 5 days postpartum) promotes lactation in mothers of preterm infants, shortens the onset time of lactation, and improves exclusive breast milk proportions within 3 months postdischarge. These findings suggest that this approach is clinically beneficial and worth broader application.