Intervening to promote early initiation of breast-feeding in the LDR

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an interventional protocol for the early initiation of breastfeeding that would remove barriers in the labor, delivery recovery (LDR) unit. Study Design and Methods: Descriptive design using 100 postpartum mothers who were interviewed before discharge at a large university hospital in the south-central United States. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results: The protocol was effective for initiating breastfeeding, and breastfeeding increased from SA to 66%. Clinical Implications: When barriers to breastfeeding are reduced in the LDR setting, women will breastfeed. It is possible that reducing hospital barriers to breastfeeding in the LDR can also set the stage for sustained breastfeeding during hospitalisation and for less supplementation with formula.