A randomised controlled trial to compare methods of milk expression after preterm delivery.
OBJECTIVE
Primary: to compare sequential and simultaneous breast pumping on volume of milk expressed and its fat content. Secondary: to measure the effect of breast massage on milk volume and fat content.


METHODS
Sequential randomised controlled trial.


METHODS
Neonatal intensive care unit, North Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trust.


METHODS
Data on 36 women were analysed; 19 women used simultaneous pumping and 17 used sequential pumping.


METHODS
Women were randomly allocated to use either simultaneous (both breasts simultaneously) or sequential (one breast then the other) milk expression. Stratification was used to ensure that the groups were balanced for parity and gestation. A crossover design was used for massage, with patients acting as their own controls. Women were randomly allocated to receive either massage or non-massage first.


METHODS
Volume of milk expressed per expression and its fat content (estimated by the creamatocrit method).


RESULTS
Milk yield per expression was: sequential pumping with no massage, 51.32 g (95% confidence interval (CI) 56.57 to 46.07); sequential pumping with massage, 78.71 g (95% CI 85.19 to 72.24); simultaneous pumping with no massage, 87.69 g (95% CI 96.80 to 78.57); simultaneous pumping with massage, 125.08 g (95% CI 140.43 to 109.74). The fat concentration in the milk was not affected by the increase in volume achieved by the interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
The results are unequivocal and show that simultaneous pumping is more effective at producing milk than sequential pumping and that breast massage has an additive effect, improving milk production in both groups. As frequent and efficient milk removal is essential for continued production of milk, mothers of preterm infants wishing to express milk for their sick babies should be taught these techniques.
Jones
E
E
Neonatal Unit, North Staffordshire Hospital, Newcastle Rd, Stoke on Trent ST4 6QG, UK. elizabethajones@yahoo.com
Dimmock
P W
PW
Spencer
S A
SA
D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008405:Massage; D008893:Milk Ejection; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D013396:Suction
D004041:Dietary Fats