Effect of early breast milk expression on milk volume and timing of lactogenesis stage II among mothers of very low birth weight infants: a pilot study

L A Parker; S Sullivan; C Krueger; T Kelechi; M Mueller

doi:10.1038/jp.2011.78

Effect of early breast milk expression on milk volume and timing of lactogenesis stage II among mothers of very low birth weight infants: a pilot study

J Perinatol. 2012 Mar;32(3):205-9. doi: 10.1038/jp.2011.78. Epub 2011 Sep 8.

Authors

L A Parker¹, S Sullivan, C Krueger, T Kelechi, M Mueller

Affiliation

¹ University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. parkela@ufl.edu

PMID: 21904296
DOI: 10.1038/jp.2011.78

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this randomized pilot study was to collect preliminary data regarding the feasibility and effects of early initiation of milk expression on the onset of lactogenesis stage II and milk volume in mothers of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Study design: Twenty women were randomized to initiate milk expression within 60 min (group 1) or 1 to 6 h (group 2) following delivery. Milk volume and timing of lactogenesis stage II was compared between groups using Wilcoxon's rank sum tests.

Result: Group 1 produced statistically significantly more milk than group 2 during the first 7 days (P=0.05) and at week 3 (P=0.01). Group 1 also demonstrated a significantly earlier lactogenesis stage II (P=0.03).

Conclusion: Initiation of milk expression within 1 h following delivery increases milk volume and decreases time to lactogenesis stage II in mothers of VLBW infants.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Breast Milk Expression*
Feasibility Studies
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*
Lactation / physiology*
Milk, Human
Time Factors