The Effect of Prenatal Breastfeeding Classes on the Initiation Rate and Duration of Breastfeeding

Aim: To determine whether an educational prenatal breastfeeding class will increase the initiation rate and duration of breastfeeding among mothers. Background: Breastfeeding rates continue to be low, particularly among teenage mothers and nonwhite mothers. Some of the factors that contribute to this are social support, education about breastfeeding, social stigmas, and time. Significance: Breastfeeding can provide many positive benefits to mothers, babies, and communities. Having no breastfeeding education makes women less likely to initiate and maintain breastfeeding. Methods: Correlational quasi-experimental design. Prenatal breastfeeding class lasting 8 weeks prior to childbirth. Phone interview at 1 week postpartum to determine if breastfeeding was initiated and follow up phone interviews at 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months postpartum to determine duration of breastfeeding. Analysis: For this research study we plan to analyze our data in the following way: We will evaluate the demographics and present descriptive statistics to describe our sample and to determine if there were group differences. For our independent variable (IV) and dependent variables (DV), in order to test our hypothesis, we will use Pearson’s Correlational Test to evaluate the correlation between the prenatal breastfeeding class and initiation and duration of breastfeeding. Limitations: Limitations of this study are potential of lack of participation in the class, difficulty with communication postpartum, and small sample size