Date of Award

Fall 2017

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

First Advisor

MacMillan, Deborah, Ph.D, RN,CNM

Second Advisor

Ketchie, Monica, DNP, RN, APRN

Third Advisor

Gordon, Pamela, DNP, RN, APRN

Abstract

Purpose. This project evaluated the effect of breastfeeding support on breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding rates among postpartum mothers in immediate postpartum period. The breastfeeding support was provided by breastfeeding shift champions (BFSC) following childbirth.

Design. A convenience sample of BFSCs, aged between 18 and 44 years, was utilized.

Method. Pre-and post-intervention questionnaires were used to evaluate breastfeeding knowledge of BFSC. Breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding rates were extracted, pre- and post- intervention, from electronic medical records of newborns and their mothers.

Data analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analyses. Descriptive data were displayed using frequency distributions tables. Paired t-test was utilized in analyzing breastfeeding knowledge of BFSC while Chi-square, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used in analyzing the breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding data.

Nursing Practice Relevance: Audit results of postpartum nurses in this facility indicated that nurses were unable to effectively provide breastfeeding support to mothers for reasons including heavy workload, staffing challenges, and time constraint. The goal of this project was to reduce nurses’ tasks, promote newborn’s wellness, increase mothers’ confidence with breastfeeding, and ultimately, increase breastfeeding/exclusive breastfeeding rates.

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