Initiation and Frequency of Breast Expression in Breastfeeding Mothers of LBW and VLBW Infants

This article is a report of data derived from two investigations. In one study, the relationship between early initiation and frequency of breast stimulation to feeding pattern at 8 weeks postpartum in mothers of low-birth-weight (LBW; ≤ 2500 g) infants was examined. The other study examined how selected physical, psychological, and management variables affect milk volume in mothers of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW; ≤ 1500 g) infants. Initiation and frequency of breast stimulation were studied in both investigations. Mothers of LBW (N = 110) and VLBW (N = 16) infants had delayed initiation of breast stimulation after delivery and low pumping frequency. No relationship was found between early initiation and frequency of breast stimulation to feeding pattern in mothers of LBW infants.