Learning Objective #1: Describe the effect of kangaroo holding premature infants on maternal breast milk production

Learning Objective #2: Discuss the implications of early kangaroo holding on breastfeeding success

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Skin-to-skin holding of infants clad only in diapers against their mothers' chest for more than an hour at a time is thought to promote the mother's ability to produce breast milk, but has not been empirically tested. This study describes the effect of skin-to-skin holding on maternal breast milk volume and then relates the finding to the evidence on early kangaroo holding premature infants.

Hypothesis: There is a significant difference in the volume of maternal breast milk pumped after skin-to-skin holding premature infants as compared to maternal breast milk pumped after non-holding conditions.

Design and Sample: This is a repeated measures crossover design of 36 breastfeeding mothers.

Procedure: Each mother enrolled skin-to-skin held her infant for an hour (holding condition) and then, within 30 minutes of holding, expressed their breast milk. Each mother completed two skin-to-skin holding experiences in the 4-day study enrollment. All breast milk was measured in grams and compared to milk volumes expressed in non-holding conditions.

Findings: In every instance, mothers pumped significantly more breast milk after skin-to-skin holding their infant. In addition, increases in milk volumes persisted throughout the study enrollment.

Significance: Implementation of skin-to-skin holding as a nursing intervention can improve breast milk production for mothers in the SCN. Research evidence suggests that this intervention has additional infant growth and development benefits.