title: Simple antenatal preparation to improve breastfeeding practice: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To address the impact of simple antenatal educational interventions on breastfeeding practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial was carried out in a tertiary referral center from May 2002 to December 2004. A random sample of eligible low-risk antenatal patients was recruited from clinics in the National University Hospital, Singapore. Group A received breastfeeding educational material and individual coaching from a lactation counselor. Group B received breastfeeding educational material with no counseling. Group C received routine antenatal care only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 401 women were recruited. Mothers receiving individual counseling and educational material practiced exclusive and predominant breastfeeding more often than mothers receiving routine care alone at 3 months (odds ratio [OR] 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-5.4) and 6 months (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.0-5.7) postpartum. More mothers practiced exclusive and predominant breastfeeding at 6 months among women receiving individual counseling compared with women exposed to educational material alone (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.0-6.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Where breastfeeding practices are suboptimal, simple one-encounter antenatal education and counseling significantly improve breastfeeding practice up to 3 months after delivery. Provision of printed or audiovisual educational material is not enough. Health care workers should make every effort to have one face-to-face encounter to discuss breastfeeding with expectant mothers before they deliver.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  (www.ClinicalTrials.gov), NCT002770192
  
  
  METHODS
  I.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Citra Nurfarah
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Mattar
authors.forename: Yap-Seng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Yah-Shih
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Annabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: Petrina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Yiong-Huak
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Mary How-Jing
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rauff
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors