title: Coparenting breastfeeding support and exclusive breastfeeding: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of a coparenting intervention on exclusive breastfeeding among primiparous mothers and fathers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a large teaching hospital in Toronto, Canada. Couples were randomized to receive either usual care (n = 107) or a coparenting breastfeeding support intervention (n = 107). Follow-up of exclusive breastfeeding and diverse secondary outcomes was conducted at 6 and 12 weeks postpartum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly more mothers in the intervention group than in the control group continued to breastfeed at 12 weeks postpartum (96.2% vs 87.6%, P = .02). Although proportionately more mothers in the intervention group were exclusively breastfeeding at 6 and 12 weeks, these differences were not significant. Fathers in the intervention group had a significantly greater increase in breastfeeding self-efficacy scores from baseline to 6 weeks postpartum compared with fathers in the control group (P = .03). In addition, significantly more mothers in the intervention group than in the control group reported that their partners provided them with breastfeeding help in the first 6 weeks (71% vs 52%, P = .02) and that they were satisfied with their partners' involvement with breastfeeding (89% vs 78.1%, P = .04). Mothers in the intervention group were also more satisfied with the breastfeeding information they received (81% vs 62.5%, P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significant improvements in breastfeeding duration, paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy, and maternal perceptions of paternal involvement and assistance with breastfeeding suggest that a coparenting intervention involving fathers warrants additional investigation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada; jennifer.abbassdick@uoit.ca.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abbass-Dick
authors.affiliation: Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.
authors.forename: Susan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: LaRon E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Community Health, Women's College Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and.
authors.forename: Cindy-Lee
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Dennis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D016487:Parenting; D010332:Paternal Behavior
keywords: breastfeeding; coparenting; fathers; parenting; randomized controlled trial