Infant Feeding Practices Among Larger Birthweight Infants
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Breastfeeding the larger birthweight infant: An exploratory mixed-methods study to identify factors that contribute to successful breastfeeding among women delivering larger birthweight infants
IRAS ID
240707
Contact name
Joseph Chilcot
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 30 days
Research summary
Breastfeeding is a WHO recommended health behaviour worldwide stating infants should be “exclusively breastfed for the first 6-months of life”. Despite extensive evidence of multiple health benefits for mothers and their infants, global breastfeeding rates remain low. In the UK, around 80% of mothers attempt to breastfeed at least once, but at 6-8weeks postpartum only 30% are exclusively breastfeeding and this declines to <1% at 6-months. The risks of breastfeeding non-initiation and early-cessation are well-established among populations of healthy, term infants, and optimal feeding practices among infants born sick and/or premature continue to be explored. However, breastfeeding outcomes (initiation, duration and/or exclusivity) are yet to be investigated in relation to larger infant birthweight (i.e. >90th centile correct for gestational-age and sex), and research has only recently started to focus on how maternal morbidities that predispose fetal macrosomia (e.g. maternal obesity and diabetes mellitus) influence breastfeeding behaviours.
Research Aim: To conduct an exploratory mixed-methods, two-phase investigation of infant feeding practices among women who deliver a healthy, term larger birthweight infant.
Phase I. is a longitudinal prospective study to explore the relative influence of socio-demographic, clinical and psychological factors that influence breastfeeding initiation, duration, exclusivity, formula feeding, and infant weaning up to 4-months postpartum. Women attending clinics at St Thomas’ Hospital during their third trimester of pregnancy will be recruited and followed-up to 4-months postpartum at 3 timepoints: 0-2weeks, 6-8weeks, and 4-months postpartum.
Phase II. is a qualitative interview study aiming to understand the perceptions, experiences and motivators for infant feeding among women who deliver larger birthweight infants, and compare these to women delivering average birthweight infants. Between 20–30 women (and their partners) will be interviewed between 4-12months postpartum to explore and compare their experiences, attitudes, beliefs, challenges, and benefits of infant feeding to identify key areas for support improvement.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0740
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jun 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion