Wayfinding through the "ocean of the great unknown": how lactating parents establish a direct breastfeeding relationship with an infant with critical CHD.

INTRODUCTION: Lactating parents of infants hospitalised for critical congenital heart disease (CHD) face significant barriers to direct breastfeeding. While experiences of directly breastfeeding other hospitalised neonates have been described, studies including infants with critical CHD are scarce. There is no evidence-based standard of direct breastfeeding care for these infants, and substantial practice variation exists. AIM: To explain how direct breastfeeding is established with an infant hospitalised for critical CHD, from lactating parents' perspectives. MATERIALS & METHODS: This study is a qualitative grounded dimensional analysis of interviews with 30 lactating parents of infants with critical CHD who directly breastfed within 3 years. Infants received care from 26 United States cardiac centres; 57% had single ventricle physiology. Analysis included open, axial, and selective coding; memoing; member checking; and explanatory matrices. RESULTS: Findings were represented by a conceptual model, "Wayfinding through the 'ocean of the great unknown'." The core process of Wayfinding involved a nonlinear trajectory requiring immense persistence in navigating obstacles, occurring in a context of life-and-death consequences for the infant. Wayfinding was characterised by three subprocesses: navigating the relationship with the healthcare team; protecting the direct breastfeeding relationship; and doing the long, hard work. Primary influencing conditions included relentless concern about weight gain, the infant's clinical course, and the parent's previous direct breastfeeding experience. CONCLUSIONS: For parents, engaging in the Wayfinding process to establish direct breastfeeding was feasible and meaningful - though challenging. The conceptual model of Wayfinding explains how direct breastfeeding can be established and provides a framework for research and practice.

Encourage, Assess, Transition (EAT): A Quality Improvement Project Implementing a Direct Breastfeeding Protocol for Preterm Hospitalized Infants.

BACKGROUND: The opportunity to establish a direct breastfeeding (DBF) relationship with a preterm infant, if desired by the mother or lactating parent, is a known driver of positive healthcare experiences. Preterm birth is an independent risk factor for early human milk (HM) cessation, and DBF at the first oral meal promotes continued DBF during hospitalization and HM duration beyond discharge. While the Spatz 10-step model for protecting and promoting HM and breastfeeding in vulnerable infants provides best practices, lack of standardized implementation results in missed opportunities to meet parents' DBF goals. PURPOSE: To standardize clinical practices to increase DBF at the first oral meal, total DBF meals during hospitalization, and use of test weighing to measure milk transfer for preterm infants. METHODS: Quality improvement methods were used to develop and implement Encourage, Assess, Transition (EAT): a DBF protocol for infants less than 37 weeks gestation at birth, in a level II neonatal intensive care unit. RESULTS: Thirty-eight (45%) infants from 27.7 to 36.7 weeks of gestation initiated the protocol. The proportion of infants' DBF at first oral meal increased from 22% to 54%; mean DBF meals during hospitalization increased from 13.3 to 20.3; and use of test weighing increased by 166%. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: Standardizing DBF practices with the EAT protocol increased DBF during hospitalization-a known driver of patient experience-and HM duration beyond discharge, in hospitalized preterm infants. Researchers should validate the reported benefits of EAT (increased DBF during hospitalization, use of test weighing, and improved patient experience), methods to promote passive dissemination of evidence, and sustain change. VIDEO ABSTRACT AVAILABLE AT: https://journals.lww.com/advancesinneonatalcare/pages/video.aspx?v=61 .

The Impact of Human Milk on Outcomes for Infants with Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review.

Background: Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for feeding-related morbidity and mortality, with growth failure and oral feeding problems associated with poor outcomes. The benefits of human milk (HM) for preterm infants have been well documented, but evidence on HM for infants with CHD has recently begun to emerge. Objectives: Our primary aim was to examine the impact of HM feeding on outcomes for infants with CHD. Methods: Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines, a search was conducted using MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The quality of each study was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal Tools. A total of 16 studies were included. Results: There was evidence that an exclusive HM diet reduces the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) for infants with CHD. Evidence with a higher risk for bias indicated that a well-managed HM diet may be associated with improved growth, shorter length of stay, and improved postoperative feeding and nutritional outcomes. Chylothorax outcomes were similar between modified HM and medium-chain triglyceride formula. The studies had significant limitations related to power, lack of control for covariates, and inconsistent delineation of feeding groups. Conclusions: Based on the reduced risk for NEC and given the conclusive benefits in other vulnerable populations, we recommend that clinicians and institutions prioritize programs to support HM feeding for infants with CHD. Large high-quality studies are needed to validate these results. Future work should clarify best practices in managing an HM diet to support optimal growth and development for these infants.