Been there, done that; now you try.Participation in a peer counseling program aimed at encouraging breast-feeding breast-feeding /breast-feed·ing/ (brest´fed?ing) nursing; the feeding of an infant at the mother's breast. was associated with elevated rates of breastfeeding at 12 weeks among women who bore premature infants at an inner-city hospital in 2001-2004. (1) Specially trained local area women with breastfeeding experience who served as peer counselors visited with program participants within 72 hours after they delivered and kept in weekly contact with them for six weeks. Outcomes among these women were compared with those among a similar group, who received standard of care treatment, including access to breast-feeding classes and to professional staff who are trained in breast-feeding management. At 12 weeks, participants had nearly three times as high odds of breast-feeding (exclusively or with supplemental feeding) as controls (odds ratio, 2.8); the odds of breast-feeding at 12 weeks also were higher among black women with peer counselors than among other black mothers (3.6). Noting that several professional groups encourage prolonged breast-feeding, the researchers remark that this practice probably is especially important for premature infants, who face many health risks. (1.) Merewood A et al., The effect of peer counselors on breastfeeding rates in the neonatal intensive care unit Noun 1. neonatal intensive care unit - an intensive care unit designed with special equipment to care for premature or seriously ill newborn NICU ICU, intensive care unit - a hospital unit staffed and equipped to provide intensive care : results of a randomized controlled trial A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is a scientific procedure most commonly used in testing medicines or medical procedures. RCTs are considered the most reliable form of scientific evidence because it eliminates all forms of spurious causality. , Archive of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine adolescent medicine n. The branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of youth between 13 and 21 years of age. Also called ephebiatrics, hebiatrics. , 2006, 160(7):681-685. FYI "For your information." See digispeak. FYI - For Your Information is compiled and written by Dore Hollander; executive editor of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health Within the framework of WHO's definition of health[1] as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reproductive health, or sexual health/hygiene . |
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