With support from Sigma Theta Tau’s Maternal Child Health Nurse Leadership Academy (MCHNLA) and Johnson & Johnson, this quality improvement project is to determine the impact of a breastfeeding support group on a mother’s breastfeeding experience.
Background
Mother’s seeking breastfeeding support often describe their situation as “desperate, lacking confidence, anxious, struggling and looking for encouragement” (Blake Stevenson Ltd, 2016). Those feelings may stem from shorter lengths of stay in the hospital with less opportunity to get thorough breastfeeding education and support. This results in decreased satisfaction, shorter duration of breastfeeding and the lack of confidence, knowledge and skill to be successful (Blake Stevenson Ltd, 2016). The purpose of this quality improvement project is to determine the impact of a breastfeeding support group on a mother’s breastfeeding experience.
As a Baby Friendly designated organization, this group meets criteria for support of the tenth step in the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding: “Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or birth center” (www.babyfriendlyUSA.org).
Aim
The specific aim is: to improve the knowledge, confidence and skills rating by 15 % from pre-survey to post-survey responses of breastfeeding mothers attending the breastfeeding support group within 12 months.
Methods
If a mother chooses to participate in the quality improvement project, she will be given a written survey asking about her knowledge, skill and confidence with breastfeeding prior to attending the breastfeeding support group and asked the same questions after attending the support group. The pre-survey will also include questions related to demographics (i.e. ethnicity and age), method of delivery, number of children, medical history related to breastfeeding, previous experience with breastfeeding. The participants will have the option of completing the post survey by phone if they are unable to complete it in person. Thirty women will be enrolled. Each survey will collect de-identified data related to knowledge, skill and confidence about breastfeeding.
Outcomes
Results are pending.
Conclusions
Conclusions are pending.