Providing Breastfeeding Support During COVID-19: A Survey of Staff Experiences

Rachel Hoying, Nevert Badreldin, Malika D. Shah, Janelle R. Bolden, Peter Cummings, Daniel T. Robinson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges to maternity settings. Its influence on providing in-hospital lactation support has not been well described. Research Aim: To describe the experiences of healthcare workers as they provided in-hospital lactation support during the pandemic. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, online survey evaluated healthcare providers working with postpartum women and newborns affected by COVID-19 at an academic center during March–June 2020. Providers were queried regarding the influence of COVID-19 and COVID-19-specific policies on providing lactation support. Questions assessed guidance received, perceived stress, difficulty providing care, and solicited qualitative responses. The constant comparative method was used to analyze qualitative data. Results: Of 108 providers, 70 (65%) completed the survey. Of 57 providing direct lactation support to women affected by COVID-19, most (n = 39, 67%) reported increased stress. Participants reported lower stress scores when receiving guidance through shift meetings or email compared to those not receiving this guidance [stress score with shift meeting guidance (M [SD]): 3.10 (0.88); score without guidance: 3.83 (0.66); n = 39, p =.009; score with email guidance: 3.79 (0.58); score without guidance: 4.50 (0.58); n = 18, p =.045). Qualitative responses (n = 67; 96%) identified three themes: visitor restrictions allowed less distraction during lactation support; physical separation disrupted maternal/infant bonding; workflow challenges resulted from policy changes and supply access. Conclusions: Most participating staff providing lactation support to participants affected by COVID-19 reported increased stress. Ensuring written or verbal guidance may reduce staff’s experiences of stress. Efforts to optimize lactation support during COVID-19 should consider reducing distractions, physical separation, and logistic challenges.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)43-52
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Human Lactation
Volume38
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2022

Funding

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by a summer research stipend from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Area of Scholarly Concentration program as well as internal funding from the Division of Neonatology. No authors received an honorarium, grant, or any form of payment or writing assistance for this manuscript’s production.

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • breastfeeding
  • breastfeeding support
  • lactation education
  • mother-to-child transmission
  • mother–infant dyad
  • policy analysis
  • qualitative methods

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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