Prenatal and Postpartum Strategies to Enhance Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Exclusivity

Prenatal and Postpartum Strategies to Enhance Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Exclusivity

Prenatal interventions

• Providing breastfeeding education on topics such as the importance of breastfeeding, and positioning and latch.
• Using a solution-orientated approach focusing on areas such as increasing mastery, building confidence by learning      from others, exploring responses to stress, and keeping motivated.
• Showing breastfeeding videos.
• Holding breastfeeding workshops in the third trimester.

Postpartum interventions

• Assess breastfeeding self-efficacy using a validated tool.
• Provide breastfeeding education in written and multimedia formats.
• Support and encourage breastfeeding.
• Provide breastfeeding counselling to answer questions and concerns.
• Incorporate breastfeeding self-efficacy theoretical principles.
• Offer practical assistance with positioning and latch.
• Teach breast milk hand expression.
• Screen for indications for follow-up assessment by a lactation consultant or physician.
• Discuss any concerns regarding actual or perceived insufficient milk supply.