Breastfeeding

This study aims to evaluate the effects of different massage techniques applied to mothers and infants on breastfeeding parameters and mother-infant bonding during the postpartum period. The study will investigate whether infant massage applied by mothers, oxytocin massage applied to mothers by fathers, or the combination of both interventions improves breastfeeding outcomes and mother-infant bonding compared with standard postpartum care.

This study was designed as a randomised, pretest-posttest study, assessing breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding in first-time mothers following a separate video and podcast training session using the Health Action Process Approach Model. The study will be conducted with primiparous pregnant women in their third trimester, with no restrictions on breastfeeding. In the first phase of the study, a semi-trained interview format based on the SESY Model will be administered to 15 pregnant women at a fertility school to address nutritional deficiencies. Deficiencies in the pregnant women will be identified. To address these deficiencies, the researcher will develop a breastfeeding education book based on the SESY Model, produce a video, and produce the same content as a podcast. Both groups will complete the Introductory Information Form, the Breastfeeding Attitudes Assessment Scale, and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form. After completing their surveys, the control groups, which are pregnant women, will only receive the Breastfeeding Brochure from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey. Pregnant women in the intervention groups receive breastfeeding education throughout the cycle, in addition to videos and podcasts. Pregnant women will be asked to watch the videos and listen to the podcast until they give birth. Pregnant women will be contacted on the day of their birth to ask if there are any websites they would like to learn more about and to re-watch the video and listen to the podcast. Pregnant women will be contacted for an evaluation one month after birth to complete the Breastfeeding Attitudes Assessment Scale, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form, LATCH Breastfeeding Diagnostic and Assessment Scale, and Breastfeeding Follow-Up Form I. To emphasize the importance of breastfeeding in the first six months and ensure continuity of breastfeeding, pregnant women will be contacted again at six months to complete a post-test and the Breastfeeding Attitudes Assessment Scale, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form, LATCH Breastfeeding Diagnostic and Assessment Scale, and Breastfeeding Follow-Up Form II.

The goal of the Leveraging Infant Visit PrEP INtegration \& tasK Shifting to Improve Postpartum HIV Prevention in Malawi (LINK) study is to evaluate both the effectiveness of a postpartum prevention package ("LINK model") among post-partum women and its implementation into existing clinical care models in Lilongwe, Malawi. The main question the study seeks to answer is: Do women at clinics implementing the LINK model have improved Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) persistence compared to women at clinics receiving the standard of care? Researchers will compare the LINK model to standard of care by randomizing twelve sites to either the LINK model or the standard of care. Then researchers will review existing medical record and health surveillance data, and qualitative and quantitative data collected from intervention and control sites.

This study is about preparing women with excessive weight to have better breastfeeding outcomes. By doing this study, the investigators hope to learn more about how hand expression of breast milk or colostrum during pregnancy can help prepare a mother to breastfeed after she has her baby and about how her diet affects the composition of her breast milk and her baby's growth and development.

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of a midwife-led digital follow-up program on postpartum depression, perceived social support, and breastfeeding self-efficacy in women who will undergo cesarean section. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group that will receive structured face-to-face education followed by a 4-week digital follow-up program, or a control group that will receive routine postpartum care. Data will be collected at baseline (postpartum day 1), at 1 week, and at 4 weeks postpartum using validated measurement tools. The study will provide evidence on the effectiveness of continuous, midwife-led digital support in improving maternal psychological well-being and breastfeeding outcomes in the early postpartum period.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effects of iodine-containing multiple micronutrient supplements provided to breastfeeding mothers who live in settings with mild iodine deficiency. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. What are the effects of iodine-containing multiple micronutrient supplements provided to breastfeeding mothers on infant development, as measured by electroencephalography/visual evoked potentials? 2. What are the effects of iodine-containing multiple micronutrient supplements on breast milk concentrations of iodine, and infant iodine and thyroid status? 3. How do iodine and iron interact with each other to affect thyroid function in the mother during lactation? Participants will be randomized to receive a daily multiple micronutrient tablet containing iodine (UNIMAPP) for 6 months postpartum, or routine postnatal care per Ethiopia Ministry of Health. Mothers will provide a breast milk sample and blood at 3 and 6 months postpartum. Infants will provide a urine sample and drop of blood, and have a neurodevelopmental assessment at 3 and 6 months. Researchers will compare the groups that received the iodine-containing micronutrient supplement with the group that received routine care and see if there were any benefits on infant development and iodine and thyroid status in the mother and baby.

Alcohol consumption, even at low levels, has been associated with increased breast cancer risk, but the biological mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. This study will examine whether breast tissue may locally metabolize alcohol by measuring alcohol-related compounds in paired blood and breast milk samples from lactating women. The findings may help clarify alcohol-related biological pathways relevant to breast cancer risk and improve risk communication.

PRESENT is a multi-center randomised controlled trial that aims to assess whether access to pasteurized donor human milk as supplementary nutrition in the first five days of life for term infants born to women with diabetes in pregnancy reduces the proportion of infants who are admitted to a neonatal unit for management of hypoglycemia compared with current standard hospital care. The trial will also assess other important outcomes including breastfeeding rates, maternal mental health, and infant cow's milk allergy. There will be two treatment arms. In the intervention arm, PDHM will be made available to infants from randomisation until day 5 of life. Infants allocated to the control arm will receive care as per local unit policy, including supplemental nutrition as recommended by the treating clinician. After hospital discharge, participants will be asked to complete an electronic questionnaire at 2 \& 6 weeks and 6 \& 12 months after birth. Questionnaires will assess infant feeding practices, maternal quality of life \[including anxiety and depression symptoms and health-related quality of life\] along with infant cow's milk allergy symptoms.

This study aims to evaluate a wearable technology developed to support breastfeeding women. The study will assess the performance of sensors in the wearable prototype for monitoring breast milk fullness and milk flow and compare the sensor measurements with the amount of breast milk obtained through breast pumping. The study will also evaluate women's experiences, satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and ease of use of the wearable prototype and its mobile application. The technology is intended for monitoring and support purposes and will not be used for diagnosis, treatment, or clinical decision-making.

The Effect of Successful Breastfeeding Stories and Video-Based Education on Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Breastfeeding Success in Primiparous Mothers: A Randomized Controlled Trial Objective: This study was planned to determine the effect of the combined use of audio recordings based on successful breastfeeding stories and video-based breastfeeding education on breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding success among primiparous mothers. Methods: This study will be conducted using a randomized controlled experimental design. The population of the study will consist of primiparous mothers who give birth at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Koç University Hospital between September 2026 and February 2027. The sample will consist of a total of 70 primiparous mothers (35 intervention and 35 control) who meet the inclusion criteria and are assigned to the intervention and control groups using a computer-assisted simple randomization method. In addition to routine breastfeeding education provided at the hospital, mothers in the intervention group will receive audio recordings based on successful breastfeeding stories and video-based breastfeeding education. The control group will receive only the routine breastfeeding education provided at the hospital. Data will be collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Form, Postpartum Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF), LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool, Educational Materials Satisfaction Form, and First-Month Evaluation Form. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-test, paired-samples t-test, chi-square test, and repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be used. The statistical significance level will be accepted as p\<0.05. Expected Results: It is anticipated that the audio recordings based on successful breastfeeding stories and the video-based education program will increase breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding success among primiparous mothers. Conclusion: The findings obtained from this study are expected to contribute to the planning of evidence-based nursing interventions aimed at improving breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding success among primiparous mothers, provide a scientific basis for innovative educational models that can be used to support breastfeeding, and guide the development of standardized breastfeeding education programs that can be implemented in postpartum care services.

Breastfeeding provides significant benefits for maternal and infant health; however, perceived insufficient milk supply is one of the most common factors associated with early breastfeeding discontinuation. Although the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, breastfeeding continuation rates remain suboptimal in many countries, including Türkiye. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of breastfeeding education combined with a web portal and mobile application-supported breastfeeding counseling on perceived insufficient milk supply, breastfeeding intention, and breastfeeding adaptation among pregnant women. Women at 37-39 weeks of gestation will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group will receive individualized breastfeeding education during pregnancy, educational materials, postpartum breastfeeding support, and web portal- and mobile application-supported breastfeeding counseling. Participants in the control group will receive routine hospital care. Data will be collected during pregnancy (baseline), immediately after birth, and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month postpartum follow-ups using validated scales assessing perceived insufficient milk supply, breastfeeding intention, and breastfeeding adaptation. Digital platform usage data, including the counseling topics accessed and the frequency of use, will also be evaluated in the intervention group. This study is supported as a research project and aims to develop an accessible digital breastfeeding support model that may improve breastfeeding confidence, reduce perceived insufficient milk supply, and promote breastfeeding adaptation and continuation.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if listening to a relaxation audiorecording during breastfeeding improves breastfeeding and infant outcomes and maternal well-being in a low-income country setting. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does listening to a relaxation audiorecording during breastfeeding improve infant growth? * Does listening to a relaxation audiorecording during breastfeeding reduce maternal stress and anxiety? Researchers will compare listening to an audiorecording on a digital recording device to receiving the digital recording device without an audiorecording to see if relaxation audiorecordings work to improve breastfeeding, infant growth and maternal well-being. Participants will: * Listen to an audiorecording twice daily while breastfeeding for 12 weeks * Have study visits at 1, 2, 4 and 12 weeks for checkups and tests * Let us know what they think of the audiorecording

Ankyloglossia is a congenital condition characterized by a restrictive lingual frenulum that may limit normal tongue mobility and be associated with breastfeeding difficulties. Reported problems include ineffective latch, maternal nipple pain and nipple trauma, mastitis, reduced milk transfer, poor infant weight gain, and early breastfeeding cessation. However, the available evidence regarding the impact of ankyloglossia on breastfeeding outcomes remains limited and controversial. The primary objective of this prospective cohort study is to evaluate the association between neonatal ankyloglossia, assessed using the TABBY assessment tool during the first 72 hours of life, and breastfeeding effectiveness measured using the LATCH scale during the same period. Mother-infant dyads will be recruited during the newborn's first 72 hours of life, during the hospital admission for childbirth, at the University Hospital of Guadalajara, Spain. Newborns will be classified according to the presence or absence of ankyloglossia using the TABBY assessment tool and will be followed for the first 6 months of life. Information will be collected during routine clinical follow-up and through telephone interviews. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the association between ankyloglossia and breastfeeding duration, exclusive breastfeeding duration, maternal pain during breastfeeding, and maternal breastfeeding satisfaction.

Preterm infants are at increased risk of vitamin A deficiency because they are born with low vitamin A stores and depend largely on breast milk to meet their nutritional needs. This study will evaluate whether daily maternal vitamin A supplementation increases vitamin A concentrations in the breast milk of mothers who deliver infants before 29 weeks of gestation. Participants will receive a commercially available oral multivitamin supplement containing 1,300 mcg retinol activity equivalents (RAE) of vitamin A daily for four months after delivery. Breast milk samples will be collected at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 4 months postpartum to measure vitamin A concentrations. The study will assess whether maternal supplementation is a feasible approach for increasing breast milk vitamin A concentrations in mothers of preterm infants.

Sexual dysfunction is very common in the postpartum period and is more common in people who breastfeed or pump. This research study was designed to help determine whether postpartum patients who use vaginal estrogen cream while breastfeeding have improved sexual function compared to postpartum patients who do not.

Lactation is the period when new mothers breastfeed their babies and milk production is at its highest level. During this period, breast milk, as a natural source of nutrition, provides the baby with the necessary nutrients for the first six months following birth. Globally, 44% of newborns are breastfed within the first hour, and 40% are exclusively breastfed for the first six months. The goal is to increase these rates to 70% for breastfeeding within the first hour and to over 50% for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. According to the 2018 Turkish Population and Health Survey (TNSA), the rate of breastfeeding within the first hour of newborns was determined to be 71%, and the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months was 41%. Although breastfeeding is common in our country, breastfeeding rates are not at the level recommended by the World Health Organization. One of the factors that may cause a decrease in breastfeeding initiation and maintenance rates is inadequate support and management of breastfeeding . The older generation often plays an important role in supporting breastfeeding behavior. In traditional Turkish families, an experienced older generation is willing to have a say in breastfeeding behaviors such as initiating and maintaining breastfeeding. In the international literature, it is also reported that grandmothers guide mothers in matters such as taking care of the mother and baby, initiating and maintaining breastfeeding, giving the first milk to the baby, the mother's nutrition during the breastfeeding period, and the timing of the transition to complementary foods. Among the positive effects of grandmother support are; The benefits of grandmother support include strengthening mothers' decisions to start and continue breastfeeding by sharing information and experience about breastfeeding and increasing mothers' ability to continue breastfeeding. reported that grandmother support significantly affected mothers in the postpartum period. However, negative effects of grandmother support have also been reported. Some studies show that grandmothers may negatively affect breastfeeding duration because they recommend giving extra fluids to infants in the first months of life or encourage the early introduction of complementary foods. Studies show that grandmother support can affect mothers' breastfeeding behaviors in both positive and negative ways. However, there are no randomized controlled trials in the literature that examine the effect of guiding grandmother support with a scientifically structured educational program on the breastfeeding process, maternal motivation, and breastfeeding self-efficacy. In this context, the aim of this research is to determine how breastfeeding education given to grandmothers during the prenatal period affects mothers' motivation regarding the breastfeeding process, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and breastfeeding continuation.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effect of breast-pumping frequency on breast milk supply/ volume in mothers of preterm infants. The main question it aims to answer is: \- What effect does pumping frequency have on breast milk supply. Researchers will compare breastmilk supply of mothers who pump every 2 hours to the supply of those who pump every 3 hours to see if there is a difference in the amount of breastmilk they produce. Participants will be assigned to either pump every 2 hours or every 3 hours and record how many milliliters of breastmilk they produce daily for the first 28 days of their baby's life.

This study is being conducted to determine the relationship between early childhood exposures, such as Adverse Childhood Experiences, Social Determinants of Health and nutrition/breastfeeding, among children with sickle cell disease, and behavioral interventions aimed to reshape psychological resilience and lifestyle factors towards positive health outcomes.

Although the female body and fetus are physiologically equipped to carry out the birthing process, the increasing medical interventions in the birthing process today are pushing women into the background during labor. This situation can indirectly affect the duration of labor by causing an increase in women's anxiety and perceived pain levels. In this regard, the application of non-pharmacological methods that support women in effectively managing pain, enabling their active participation in childbirth, shortening the duration of the stages of labor, and having low cost and side effects, stands out as an important care option for women. Today, the use of non-pharmacological methods by midwives who play an active role in childbirth and postpartum care is becoming increasingly common. Among the non-pharmacological approaches are distraction techniques; Practices such as deep breathing exercises, early skin-to-skin contact, listening to relaxing music, watching videos, virtual reality applications, communicating, or cognitive focus shifting contribute to a woman's perception of her birthing experience as more controllable and comfortable . This research will be conducted to evaluate the effect of music listening and stress ball application on placental separation time, pain during episiotomy repair, and breastfeeding success in primiparous pregnant women.

The goal of this observational study is to learn how a pregnant woman's physical fitness and emotional well-being can help predict the type of birth she will have (such as a natural vaginal birth versus a cesarean section or a birth requiring medical assistance). The study focuses on pregnant women in their third trimester (after 28 weeks of pregnancy). The main questions the study aims to answer are: * Can simple tests of physical strength and questions about emotions (like fear of childbirth) help health professionals predict if a birth might have complications or lack of progress? * Do a woman's physical activity and confidence levels during pregnancy affect her ability to successfully breastfeed her baby for up to 6 months? Participants will be asked to: * Perform two simple physical tests during a clinic visit: a hand-grip test (dynamometry test) and a test to see how many times they can stand up from a chair in 30 seconds (Chair Stand Test, CST). * Complete surveys about their daily physical activity (PPAQ-S), their feelings and fears regarding childbirth (WDEQ-A), and how confident they feel about handling the final stage of birth and the pushing phase (CBSEI-16). * Answer brief follow-up phone calls one month and six months after the birth to talk about how breastfeeding is going.

The objective of this randomized controlled trial is to examine the efficacy of a new intervention to prevent postpartum smoking relapse and related health consequences through breastfeeding promotion. After the pre-test, ex-smokers who are still abstinent from smoking will be randomized into either the breastfeeding intervention or the attention placebo control group. The outcomes are postpartum smoking relapse, breastfeeding practices, and maternal and child health.

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of breastfeeding education provided via podcast to mothers of preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit on the mothers' breastfeeding success, awareness, motivation, self-efficacy, and perception of insufficient milk supply. The research aims to help mothers overcome challenges in the breastfeeding process by increasing their knowledge levels and to strengthen their confidence in this process. Thus, the goal is to better meet the nutritional needs of preterm infants and to improve mothers' breastfeeding experiences in a positive direction.

The benefits of breastfeeding no longer need to be proven. Many studies have shown its positives effects on both infants and mothers. Exclusive breastfeeding is thus recommended within the first six months of life. Excessive screen use has been shown to be harmful in many aspects of daily life. The impact upon the relation between mother and newborn infant is poorly studied. The study aims to evaluate the impact of the use of smartphones on the success and duration of breastfeeding.

This randomized controlled trial evaluates whether acupressure education provided to mothers within the first 48 hours postpartum improves exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6 months compared with standard postpartum care alone. Mothers in the intervention group will receive structured education on self-administered acupressure at selected points and will be encouraged to continue home-based practice, while the control group will receive standard breastfeeding support. Participants will be followed for 12 months to assess breastfeeding continuation, breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding quality, and breastfeeding-related outcomes.

The World Health Organization and UNICEF define the protection and support of breastfeeding as one of the key determinants of maternal and newborn health. Nipple cracks are common in the postpartum period and cause breastfeeding problems. If not addressed early, they can lead to interrupted or complete cessation of breastfeeding. It is important to develop methods for effective, safe, and mother-friendly care of nipple cracks. Various care approaches, such as lanolin, natural products, and hydrogels, have been described in the literature. However, evidence for non-invasive agents that support wound healing at the cellular level is limited. Evidence for LED light application is limited, and there is no evidence regarding the effect of topical oxygen application on nipple cracks. This project is designed as a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effect of topical oxygen and LED light therapy applied to nipple cracks on wound healing, pain, and breastfeeding success. The study will be conducted at the Lactation Unit of Istanbul Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Ministry of Health, between March and December 2026. The sample size was calculated using the G\*Power program; with an effect size of 0.20, a significance level of 5%, and a power of 80%, a total of 51 mothers will be included in the study. Participants will be divided into three groups using the block randomization method: Topical Oxygen (n=17), LED Light Therapy (n=17), and Control (n=17). Standard breastfeeding counseling will be provided to all groups. In addition to the intervention groups, topical oxygen will be applied at a flow rate of 10 liters per minute for 20 minutes; LED light therapy will be applied at 630 nm red and 850 nm infrared wavelengths, at an energy dose of 15.3 J/cm², for 5 minutes. Interventions will be performed on days 0, 3, and 7. Data will be collected using a personal information form, wound size measurement, Nipple Trauma Score, Visual Analog Scale, and LATCH score. The validity and reliability of the Nipple Trauma Score in Turkish will be assessed within the scope of the project. To reduce measurement and analysis bias, support will be obtained from an independent observer and a statistician.