title: Documentation of second-by-second breastfeeding behaviors using a novel method.
abstract: The specific way nursing patterns influence the duration of postpartum amenorrhea is unknown. This may result from the shortcomings of available methods: the daily log and recall. We tested these against a novel method, an event monitor (EM), consisting of a wrist-worn stopwatch that stores events. Exclusively breastfeeding women (n = 11) were assigned randomly to use each of the three methods twice during a 2-week period surrounding Weeks 4, 8, and 12 postpartum. More nursing episodes were recorded with the EM than log during Week 4 (p < 0.03) and Week 8 (p < 0.02). EM captured more episodes than recall during all study periods (p < 0.004). The EM was considered as acceptable and accurate to mothers as the other methods and, therefore, is a useful option for documenting breastfeeding patterns.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Weissman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gournis
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results