title: The Rush Mothers' Milk Club: breastfeeding interventions for mothers with very-low-birth-weight infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based breastfeeding program (Rush Mothers' Milk Club) for mothers and their very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of hospital records for 207 eligible VLBW infants cared for in a 52-bed urban neonatal intensive-care unit for a 24-month period in 1997-1998.
  
  
  METHODS
  Entire medical records were reviewed for 207 VLBW infants whose mothers (44.9% African American, 35.7% White, 17.9% Latina) were eligible to provide own mothers' milk (OMM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardized evidence-based interventions through the Rush Mothers' Milk Club program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lactation initiation rate; mean dose of OMM at 15, 30, and 60 days postbirth; mean percent of fed-hospital days equal to exclusive and some OMM feedings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lactation initiation rate was 72.9%. Mean dose of OMM over the first 15, 30, and 60 days postbirth was 81.7%, 80.1%, and 66.1%, respectively, of total volume fed. Exclusive and some OMM was received for a mean of 57.2% and 72.5%, respectively, of fed-hospital days. The outcomes for low-income African American women are the highest reported in the literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Rush Mothers' Milk Club effectively achieved lactation outcomes that approach the national health objective, although the mothers had significant risk factors for initiating and sustaining lactation. The findings have important implications for clinicians, researchers, administrators, and policy makers.
authors.affiliation: Special Care Nursery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. paula_meier@rush.edu
authors.forename: Paula P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Engstrom
authors.forename: Stefanie Spanier
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mingolelli
authors.forename: Donna J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Miracle
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiesling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007774:Lactation / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000592:standards; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States