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Leveraging mHealth and a milk expression frequency biomarker during postpartum to prolong lactation among parents of critically ill infants: a pilot study

Journal of Perinatology volume 43, pages 616–623 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To assess the feasibility and potential benefits of personalized biomarker-based text messages in prolonging lactation among parents of critically ill infants.

Study Design

Thirty-six participants were randomized to receive either daily texts with Mother’s Own Milk (MOM) sodium levels or standard care. Surveys at months 1 and 3 assessed whether infants were receiving exclusive MOM feeding, any MOM feeding, and whether the parent was still lactating. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used for time-to-event analysis within and between intervention and control groups.

Results

Participants were predominantly on Medicaid (72%), delivered infants <1500 g, and by c-section (56%). Kaplan-Meier probabilities at month 3 suggest prolonged MOM feeding (63% [0.95CI, 0.43–0.91] vs. 41% [0.95CI, 0.21–0.67]) and lactation (63% [0.95CI, 0.42–0.95] vs. 37% [0.95CI, 0.18–0.76]) in the enhanced group compared to the control group.

Conclusion

Personalized biomarker-based text messages are feasible and may prolong lactation and MOM feeding among parents of critically ill infants.

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Fig. 1: CONSORT flow diagram.
Fig. 2: Kaplan-Meier and log-rank analyses of expressing milk or breastfeeding, receiving exclusive MOM, and receiving any MOM.

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Data availability

Data is available upon request.

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Funding

This study was supported by the University of Florida Graduate School and UF Health Shands Hospital Quasi Grant P0232470.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Marina Magalhães

    Present address: Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Marina Magalhães & Leslie A. Parker

  2. Department of Animal Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Arie H. Havelaar

  3. Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Arie H. Havelaar

  4. Food Systems Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Arie H. Havelaar

  5. Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions & College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Deepthi S. Varma

  6. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Nicole Cacho & Sandra Sullivan

Authors
  1. Marina Magalhães
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  2. Arie H. Havelaar
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  3. Deepthi S. Varma
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  4. Nicole Cacho
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  5. Sandra Sullivan
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  6. Leslie A. Parker
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Contributions

MM was responsible for conceptualizing the study, designing the methodology, collecting and analyzing data, interpreting results, and preparing the original manuscript. LAP was MM’s primary mentor and involved in conceptualization, design, interpretation of results, and editing the manuscript. DSV contributed to designing the protocol and editing the manuscript. NC and SS provided clinical expertise and feedback on the manuscript. AHH supervised the analytical plan, programming on R, and interpretation of results, and edited the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marina Magalhães.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was approved by the University of Florida Institutional Review Board (201902053) and performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants were enrolled following informed consent.

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Magalhães, M., Havelaar, A.H., Varma, D.S. et al. Leveraging mHealth and a milk expression frequency biomarker during postpartum to prolong lactation among parents of critically ill infants: a pilot study. J Perinatol 43, 616–623 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-023-01639-y

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