The Rush Mothers' Milk Club: breastfeeding interventions for mothers with very-low-birth-weight infants.
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.
Meier
Paula P
PP
Special Care Nursery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. paula_meier@rush.edu
Engstrom
Janet L
JL
Mingolelli
Stefanie Spanier
SS
Miracle
Donna J
DJ
Kiesling
Stephanie
S
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