Factors which influence breastfeeding premature infants who require hospitalization in a neonatal intensive care unit.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors which influence successful or unsuccessful lactation in mothers who deliver premature infants requiring a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. In addition, the study attempted to measure the effect of nursing intervention which consisted of information, instruction and support, to determine sources of information to the mother, and to determine the influence of heath care providers in relation to successful or unsuccessful lactation. The sampled used for the study was mothers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University of Utah Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah. Thirty mothers participated in the study by completing and returning a questionnaire, and responses from all thirty mothers were evaluated in relation to successful or unsuccessful lactation. A control group and an experimental group were compared to measure the effect of nursing intervention. The data collected indicate two significant findings. The first was that of the father's age. Those mothers who were successful in breastfeeding had husband who were significantly older than did mothers who were unsuccessful in breastfeeding their infants. The second was that those who were successful had been allowed to see or touch their infant at the time of delivery, while none of those who were unsuccessful had been allowed to do so. This finding strongly supports other research related to maternal-infant bonding, and the detrimental effects of separation on the mother-infant pair. It was also concluded that for this sample there were no significant differences between the control and experimental groups and their success in breastfeeding. Both groups were equally satisfied with the information they received, and nursing intervention was not a significant factor. In addition, health care providers exerted little influence with regard to successful or unsuccessful lactation. According to these mothers, they themselves were the most influential, with their husband being the second most influential.