Making Meaning of Pumping for Mothers of Infants With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

ObjectiveTo describe the process of initiation and maintenance of milk supply and potential transition to direct breastfeeding among mother/infant dyads with infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). SettingA Level-III neonatal intensive care unit. ParticipantsEleven mother/infant dyads with infants with CDH. MethodsProspective, longitudinal qualitative descriptive design. Semistructured interviews were conducted over the course of the NICU stay. Conventional content analysis was used. ResultsHuman milk oral care emerged from the interview data as a strong facilitating factor to encouraging mothers to continue pumping during hospitalization. Four main themes emerged regarding the importance and value of human milk oral care for the mothers in relation to pumping and maintenance of milk supply: (a) It motivates me; (b) I'm a part of my baby getting better; (c) We do it together, and (d) We're getting somewhere. ConclusionsThe findings of this study reflect the importance and value of human milk oral care as a driving factor to motivate mothers to maintain milk supply during the critical time when the infant with CDH is not able to take in enteral nutrition and throughout the hospital stay.