Impact of SARS-COV-2 Infection on Maternal, Obstetric and Neonatal Outcomes in a Cohort of Vaccinated Women: A Pilot Study.

We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on maternal characteristics and obstetric and neonatal outcomes in a cohort of women in labor previously vaccinated who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, compared to aged-matched healthy controls. A retrospective case-control study was conducted among 66 women in labor. Clinical data were obtained from medical records. The attendance rates at childbirth and parenting classes, as well as the implementation of a birth plan, were significantly lower in the COVID-19 infection group (6.1% vs. 48.5%, <0.001; 6.1% vs. 33.3%, p = .005, respectively). Women with COVID-19 had a higher prevalence of prolonged postpartum hospital stay (33.3% vs. 9.1%, p = .016), and significantly higher prevalence of spontaneous preterm birth (27.3% vs. 1.09%, p = .006). Breastfeeding within the first 24 hr was also lower in women with COVID-19 (72.7% vs. 97.0%, p = .006). Maternal characteristics and neonatal outcomes are influenced by COVID-19 infection in vaccinated women. Complications include spontaneous preterm birth, prolonged postpartum hospital stay, and lack of breastfeeding within the first 24 hr. Childbirth education, parenting classes and implementing a birth plan may be associated with a decreased risk of COVID-19 infection.

Support Needs of Labor and Delivery Nurses After Traumatic Experiences.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of psychological distress, overall distress, and institutional support following a traumatic workplace event on absenteeism, turnover intention, and resilience among labor and delivery nurses. DESIGN: A quantitative cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Online distribution from January 13, 2021, to February 2, 2021. PARTICIPANTS: A nationwide convenience sample of labor and delivery nurses recruited from the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (N = 171). METHODS: Participants completed a survey that included the Second Victim Experience and Support Tool-Revised and the Second Victim Support Desirability survey. We compared available versus desired support options using descriptive analyses. We examined levels of psychological distress and lack of institutional support in relation to turnover intention, absenteeism, and resilience using multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Participants identified and described various traumatic experiences in the workplace, including neonatal and maternal death, complicated births, and workplace violence. Participants indicated that the available support services did not meet their needs. Psychological distress, overall distress, and lack of institutional support were associated with absenteeism and turnover, whereas only institutional support was associated with resilience. CONCLUSION: Labor and delivery nurses encounter various traumatic events in the workplace, and the support services provided after an event do not meet their needs. Additional research is needed to understand the scope of the problem and investigate best practices to assist labor and delivery nurses following traumatic events.

Unit-Based Nurses' Development of a Couplet Care Acuity Scoring Tool.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate content validity (CV) and interrater reliability (IRR) of an acuity scoring tool developed for the couplet care/postpartum/nursery patient population and to determine if there was agreement between supervisor or director scoring and staff scoring. DESIGN: A scoring tool to assess the acuity of the couplet care/postpartum/nursery patients was developed. SETTING: Two hospitals: one Level 2 hospital, one Level 3 hospital. Unit-based patient care councils participated in the development, and all couplet care nurses participated in scoring patients for testing. MEASUREMENTS: The final tool was evaluated for CV and IRR using expert review, universal agreement scores, and discriminant content validation. RESULTS: Regarding CV for the Couplet Care Acuity Scoring Tool, the average of the number of experts in agreement divided by the total number of experts across all items was 1.00. Regarding IRR, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.85, indicating that the tool is valid and reliable for the study sample. CONCLUSION: The tool was reliable and valid in this study. Future testing is needed with larger samples and different health care facilities.

Sociodemographic and obstetric factors associated with health-related quality of life of high-risk pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between sociodemographic and obstetric factors and the health-related quality of life of pregnant women in high-risk prenatal care. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of women in high-risk prenatal care in Ceara, Brazil. The investigated outcomes were health-related quality of life, using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form health survey; the investigated covariates were sociodemographic and obstetric data. Associative analyses were performed using the Jamovi® software version 0.9. RESULTS: Of the 276 women included in the study, women with the following characteristics presented a better quality of life in some domain of the scale: age equal to or greater than 35 years, higher income per dependent, religious, living with three or fewer persons, with their own home, in primigestation, nulliparous, with no history of previous abortion, and with up to two living children. The regression model showed an association between the total scale score, which means a higher quality of life in women with age equal to or greater than 35 years and a higher income per dependent. CONCLUSION: The study identified sociodemographic and obstetric factors that may affect the quality of life of high-risk pregnant women, providing subsidies to health providers so that they can promote better prenatal care.

Health professionals' perceptions of planned home birth care within the Brazilian health system.

BACKGROUND: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, in its opinion of the Committee on Midwifery Practice, points out that planned home birth is a woman's and family's right to experience, but also to choose and be informed about, their baby's place of birth. The aim of this study was to understand obstetric nurses' perceptions of planned home childbirth care within the framework of the Brazilian obstetric model. METHOD: A qualitative study, with Snowball Sampling recruitment, totaling 20 obstetric nurses through semi-structured interviews between September 2022 and January 2023, remotely, using the Google Meet application and the recording feature. After the data had been collected, the material was transcribed in full and subjected to content analysis in the thematic modality with the support of ATLAS.ti 8.0 software. RESULTS: Obstetric care at home emerged as a counterpoint to hospital care and the biomedical model, providing care at home based on scientific evidence and humanization, bringing qualified information as a facilitator of access and financial costs as an obstacle to effective home birth. CONCLUSION: Understanding obstetric nurses' perceptions of planned home birth care in the context of the Brazilian obstetric model shows the need for progress as a public policy and for strategies to ensure quality and regulation.

Experiências de enfermeiras obstetras no enfrentamento da COVID-19 / Obstetric nurses' experiences facing COVID-19 / Experiencias de enfermeras obstetras en el enfrentamiento del COVID-19

Objetivo: desvelar os sentimentos e fragilidades de enfermeiras obstetras no enfrentamento da pandemia da doença causada pelo coronavírus do tipo 2 (COVID-19). Método: estudo qualitativo, aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa, realizado em três maternidades de referência para risco habitual e intermediário no norte do Paraná, entre janeiro e julho de 2021. Foram entrevistadas individualmente e presencialmente, doze enfermeiras obstetras por meio de um instrumento semiestruturado contendo questões norteadoras, para análise dos dados foi utilizado Bardin e como referencial teórico Donabedian. Resultados: as narrativas foram agrupadas em duas categorias: A insegurança diante do desconhecido, e o medo da contaminação pelo vírus SARS-Cov-2; e Ausência de investimentos no capital humano gerando um contexto de risco frente ao manejo da pandemia. Considerações finais: evidenciou-se que os sentimentos negativos relatados pelas enfermeiras, estão fortemente ligados à especificidade e fragilidades do serviço de saúde, em especial maternidades, no enfrentamento da pandemia, afetando a saúde mental destes profissionais.

Objective: to reveal the feelings and weaknesses of obstetric nurses facing the pandemic of the disease caused by type 2 coronavirus (COVID-19). Method: qualitative study, approved by the Research Ethics Committee, realized in three reference maternity hospitals for usual and intermediate risk in the north of Paraná, between January and July of 2021. Twelve obstetric nurses were interviewed individually and in person using a semi-structured instrument containing guiding questions, Bardin was used to analyze the data and Donabedian as a theoretical reference. Results: the narratives were grouped into two categories: Insecurity in the face of the unknown, and the fear of contamination by the SARS-Cov-2 virus; and Lack of investments in human capital generating a context of risk in the face of pandemic management. Final considerations: it was evidenced that the negative feelings reported by nurses are strongly linked to the specificity and weaknesses of the health service, especially maternity hospitals, in confronting the pandemic, affecting the mental health of these professionals.

Objetivo: revelar los sentimientos y debilidades de las enfermeras obstétricas frente a la pandemia de la enfermedad causada por el coronavirus tipo 2 (COVID-19). Método: estudio cualitativo aprobado por el Comité de Ética en Investigación, realizado en tres maternidades de referencia para riesgo habitual e intermedio en el norte de Paraná, entre enero y julio de 2021. Se entrevistaron a doce enfermeras obstétricas, individual y presencialmente, utilizando un instrumento semiestructurado conteniendo preguntas orientadoras. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó Bardin y, como referencia teórica, Donabedian. Resultados: las narrativas fueron agrupadas en dos categorías: inseguridad frente a lo desconocido y el miedo a la contaminación por el virus SARS-Cov-2; y falta de inversiones en capital humano generando un contexto de riesgo ante la gestión de la pandemia. Consideraciones finales: se evidenció que los sentimientos negativos reportados por las enfermeras están fuertemente relacionados a la especificidad y a las debilidades del servicio de salud, especialmente de las maternidades, en el enfrentamiento a la pandemia, afectando la salud mental de estas profesionales.

Evaluación de la dilatación cervical en simuladores comparada con una herramienta visual: estudio aleatorizado / Cervical dilation assessment in simulators compared to a visual tool: A randomized study / Avaliação da dilatação cervical em simuladores comparada a uma ferramenta visual: estudo randomizado

Objetivo: comprobar la tasa de evaluación correcta mediante la comparación visual directa de las medidas de dilatación cervical en modelos de cuello uterino de consistencia dura. Método: estudio aleatorizado abierto con 63 estudiantes de obstetricia a los que se les asignó usar o no la comparación visual directa con una guía de dilatación. Los estudiantes estimaron de forma ciega la dilatación cervical en simuladores con diferentes dilataciones. El resultado primario fue la tasa de evaluación correcta. Resultados: los estudiantes realizaron 441 pruebas. Se observó una mayor tasa de evaluación correcta en el grupo experimental que en el grupo control (47,3% versus 27,2%; p < 0,001; Odds Ratio = 2,41; intervalo de confianza del 95% = 1,62-3, 58). Conclusión: la comparación visual directa aumentó la precisión de la evaluación de la dilatación cervical en modelos de simulación de cuello, lo que podría ser beneficioso en el entrenamiento de laboratorio. Registro Brasileño de Ensayos Clínicos n.º U1111-1210-2389.

Objective: to verify the correct assessment rate when using direct visual comparison in the cervical dilation measures in hard-consistency cervix simulation models. Method: an open-label and randomized study conducted with 63 Obstetrics students that were designated either to use direct visual comparison in a dilation guide or not. The students estimated cervical dilation blindly in simulators with different dilations. The primary outcome was the correct assessment rate. Results: the students performed 141 tests. A higher correct assessment rate was found in the Experimental Group than in the Control Group (47.3% versus 27.2%; p<0.001; Odds Ratio = 2.41; 95% Confidence Interval = 1.62-3.58). Conclusion: the direct visual comparison increased precision of the cervical dilation assessment in cervix simulation models, with the possibility of being beneficial in laboratory training. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials No. U1111-1210-2389.

Objetivo: verificar a taxa de avaliação correta com o uso da comparação visual direta nas medidas de dilatação cervical em modelos de simulação de colo com consistência dura. Método: estudo randomizado aberto com 63 estudantes de obstetrícia que foram designados para usar comparação visual direta em um guia de dilatação ou não. Os estudantes estimaram cegamente a dilatação cervical em simuladores com diferentes dilatações. O desfecho primário foi a taxa de avaliação correta. Resultados: os estudantes realizaram 441 testes. Foi encontrada maior taxa de avaliação correta no grupo experimental do que no grupo controle (47,3% versus 27,2%; p <0,001; Odds Ratio = 2,41; intervalo de confiança de 95% = 1,62-3,58). Conclusão: a comparação visual direta aumentou a precisão da avaliação da dilatação cervical em modelos de simulação de colo, podendo ser benéfica no treinamento em laboratório. Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos nº U1111-1210-2389.

Riesgo de depresión durante el embarazo en la atención prenatal de riesgo habitual / Risk of depression during pregnancy in usual risk antenatal care / Risco de depressão na gravidez na assistência pré-natal de risco habitual

Objetivo: identificar el riesgo de depresión durante el embarazo en gestantes de riesgo habitual incluidas en el control prenatal y los factores asociados. Método: estudio transversal, realizado con 201 gestantes, en el consultorio de prenatal de riesgo habitual de una maternidad universitaria. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó un formulario electrónico que contenía un instrumento de caracterización y la Escala de Riesgo de Depresión del Embarazo. La variable dependiente fue el riesgo de depresión en el embarazo. El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante el cálculo de la razón de posibilidades (Odds Ratio) y utilizando las pruebas de Chi-cuadrado y exacta de Fischer. Resultados: entre las participantes, 68,2% tenían mayor riesgo de depresión durante el embarazo. Hubo asociación estadísticamente significativa entre mayor riesgo de depresión durante el embarazo y la variable ocupación (p=0,04), o sea, la ausencia del trabajo (OR = 2,00) duplicó la probabilidad de ocurrencia. Conclusión: la alta prevalencia de riesgo de depresión durante el embarazo destaca la necesidad de planificación, priorización e integración de la salud mental en los servicios de salud prenatal, especialmente en el ámbito de la Atención Primaria de Salud, por parte de los gestores de salud y de los formuladores de políticas.

Objective: to identify the risk of depression during pregnancy among pregnant women receiving routine prenatal care and the associated factors. Method: a cross-sectional study, carried out with 201 pregnant women, in a routine prenatal clinic of a university maternity hospital. Data were collected using an electronic form containing a characterization instrument and the Escala de Risco de Depressão na Gravidez (Depression during Pregnancy Scale). The dependent variable was the risk of depression during pregnancy. Statistical analysis was performed by calculating the Odds Ratio and using the Chi-square and Fischer's Exact tests. Results: among the participants, 68.2% had a higher risk of depression during pregnancy. There was a statistically significant association between a higher risk of depression during pregnancy and occupation (p=0.04), that is, unemployment (OR=2.00) doubled the risk of depression. Conclusion: the high prevalence of the risk of depression during pregnancy indicates the necessity of planning, prioritizing, and integrating mental health into prenatal health services, especially in the primary healthcare environment, by health managers and policymakers.

Objetivo: identificar o risco de depressão na gravidez entre gestantes inseridas na assistência pré-natal de risco habitual e os fatores associados. Método: estudo transversal, realizado com 201 gestantes, no ambulatório de pré-natal de risco habitual de uma maternidade universitária. A coleta de dados utilizou um formulário eletrônico contendo um instrumento de caracterização e a Escala de Risco de Depressão na Gravidez. A variável dependente foi o risco de depressão na gravidez. A análise estatística deu-se pelo cálculo da razão de chances (Odds Ratio) e pelos testes Qui-quadrado e Exato de Fischer. Resultados: entre as participantes, 68,2% apresentaram maior risco de depressão na gravidez. Houve associação estatisticamente significativa entre o maior risco de depressão na gravidez e a variável ocupação (p=0,04), ou seja, a ausência de emprego (OR = 2,00) aumentou em duas vezes a chance de ocorrência. Conclusão: a alta prevalência de risco de depressão na gravidez evidencia a necessidade de planejamento, priorização e integração da saúde mental nos serviços de saúde pré-natal, principalmente no ambiente da Atenção Primária à Saúde, por parte de gestores de saúde e formuladores de políticas.

Neonatal outcomes after water birth: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare neonatal outcomes between water births, births with immersion only during labour, and births in which immersion was never used. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed including mother-baby dyads attended between 2009 and 2019 at the Hospital do Salnés regional hospital (Pontevedra, Spain). These women were categorised into 3 groups: water birth; immersion only during dilation; and women who never used immersion. Several sociodemographic-obstetric variables were studied and the main outcome was the admission of the neonate to the intensive care unit (NICU). Permission was obtained from the responsible provincial ethics committee. Descriptive statistics were used and between-group comparisons were performed using variance for continuous variables and chi-square for categorical variables. Multivariate analysis was performed with backward stepwise logistic regression and incidence risk ratios with 95%CI were calculated for each independent variable. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS® statistical software. RESULTS: A total of 1191 cases were included. 404 births without immersions; 397 immersions only during the first stage of labor; and 390 waterbirths were included. No differences were found in the need to transfer new-borns to a NICU (p = .735). In the waterbirth cohort, neonatal resuscitation (p < .001, OR: 0,1), as well as respiratory distress (p = .005, OR: 0,2) or neonatal problems during admission (p < .001, OR: 0,2), were lower. In the immersion only during labor cohort, less neonatal resuscitation (p = .003; OR: 0,4) and respiratory distress (p = .019; OR: 0,4) were found. The probability of not breastfeeding upon discharge was higher for the land birth cohort (p < .001, OR: 0,4). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that water birth did not influence the need for NICU admission, but was associated with fewer adverse neonatal outcomes, such as resuscitation, respiratory distress, or problems during admission.

Educational intervention improves knowledge and adherence to treatment amongst puerperal women with syphilis: randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Gestational syphilis requires early detection and proper treatment to prevent negative maternal-fetal outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention on treatment adherence and knowledge about syphilis in postpartum women with positive Treponema pallidum results. METHODS: A randomized, parallel, and open clinical trial was conducted with 64 postpartum women who tested positive for T. pallidum, assigned to two groups (1:1 ratio). The Intervention Group (IG) received an educational intervention on syphilis, including an explanatory leaflet and hands-on demonstrations, along with standard guidelines. The Control Group (CG) received standard guidelines alone. Pre-test and post-test assessments were conducted to measure knowledge and treatment adherence. Statistical analyses included descriptive and inferential methods, assessing group homogeneity using the Chi-square or Fishers exact test. The interventions effectiveness was determined using relative risk, and pre- and post-test scores were compared using the independent t test. RESULTS: The post-test revealed improvements in knowledge scores for general knowledge, treatment, and prevention domains (p < .05). The IG demonstrated an increase in post-test knowledge scores (p = .001), with association between post-test scores and treatment adherence (p = .001). CONCLUSION: The educational intervention on syphilis improved knowledge and treatment adherence in postpartum women with syphilis.

The 300 versus 300 Study-Low Volume versus High Volume Single Balloon Catheter for Induction of Labor: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

The use of a Foley catheter is one of the oldest known methods of labor induction. Therefore, protocols using different volumes of Foley catheter balloons have been developed and tested to accurately determine their effectiveness. In this study, it was decided to retrospectively evaluate two induction of labor (IOL) protocols. The last 300 eligible patients who met the criteria and underwent the low-volume balloon protocol (40-60 mL) IOL were selected. Then next, 300 patients who met the criteria and underwent high-volume balloon (80-100 mL) IOL were selected. Outcomes included time to delivery and parturition type, oxytocin augmentation, operative deliveries and application of intrapartum anesthesia. Overall, the majority of patients delivered within 24 h. Patients who received a high-volume Foley catheter had statistically significantly more vaginal deliveries. The mean-time to delivery in the high-volume catheter group was statistically significantly shorter than in the low-volume catheter group. Patients who received a high-volume Foley catheter required statistically significantly less oxytocin augmentation during induction of labor compared to patients with a low-volume Foley catheter. Regardless of the balloon volume used, the percentage of operative deliveries remained at a similar, low level (8.36% and 2.14%). Regardless of the catheter volume used, the majority of patients chose epidural over intravenous anesthesia. In conclusion, a high-volume balloon Foley catheter IOL is characterized by an increased percentage of vaginal deliveries, shortened time to delivery regardless of the type of delivery, and lower need for oxytocin augmentation.

O cuidado na casa de parto e sua conformidade com as diretrizes nacionais / Care in a natural birth center and due compliance with national guidelines

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a conformidade do cuidado oferecido pela Casa de Parto David Capistrano Filho-RJ às recomendações das Diretrizes Nacionais de Assistência ao Parto Normal. Estudo transversal descritivo com 952 observações, no período de 2014 a 2018. Análise de conformidade através de matriz de julgamento e classificada como conformidade total (≥75,0%), conformidade parcial (50,0%-74,9%), conformidade incipiente (49,9%-25,0%) e não conformidade (menor que 24,9%). Os resultados da matriz de julgamento mostram que o cuidado na atenção ao trabalho de parto, parto e assistência ao recém-nascido apresenta conformidade total em relação às recomendações das Diretrizes. O cuidado na Casa de Parto, conduzido por enfermeiras obstétricas, segue as recomendações das diretrizes nacionais, e vem evidenciando uma prática desmedicalizada, autônoma, que respeita a fisiologia do parto. Desenvolvem também um modelo de tecnologias próprias de cuidar, constituindo as tecnologias não invasivas de cuidado de enfermagem obstétrica.

Abstract The scope of this article is to analyze the compliance of the care offered by Casa de Parto David Capistrano Filho-RJ with the recommendations of the National Guidelines for Care in Natural Childbirth. It involved a descriptive cross-sectional study with 952 observations, from 2014 to 2018. This included analysis of compliance using a judgment matrix and then classified as total compliance (≥75.0%), partial compliance (50.0%-74.9%), incipient compliance (49.9%-25.0%) and non-compliance (less than 24.9%). The results of the judgment matrix show that care in the aspects of labor, delivery and newborn care is in full compliance with the recommendations of the Guidelines. The care at the Casa de Parto Birth Center, conducted by obstetric nurses, follows the recommendations of the national guidelines, and has been seen to incorporate a de-medicalized, personalized form of care, which respects the physiology of childbirth. They also develop a model of their own technologies of care, constituting non-invasive technologies of obstetric nursing care.

Hospital characteristics associated with nurse staffing during labor and birth: Inequities for the most vulnerable maternity patients.

BACKGROUND: Evidence is limited on nurse staffing in maternity units. PURPOSE: To estimate the relationship between hospital characteristics and adherence with Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses nurse staffing guidelines. METHODS: We enrolled 3,471 registered nurses in a cross-sectional survey and obtained hospital characteristics from the 2018 American Hospital Association Annual Survey. We used mixed-effects linear regression models to estimate associations between hospital characteristics and staffing guideline adherence. FINDINGS: Overall, nurses reported strong adherence to AWHONN staffing guidelines (rated frequently or always met by ≥80% of respondents) in their hospitals. Higher birth volume, having a neonatal intensive care unit, teaching status, and higher percentage of births paid by Medicaid were all associated with lower mean guideline adherence scores. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Important gaps in staffing were reported more frequently at hospitals serving patients more likely to have medical or obstetric complications, leaving the most vulnerable patients at risk.

Impact of the Thompson method on breastfeeding exclusivity and duration: Multi-method design.

BACKGROUND: How hospital clinicians facilitate breastfeeding in the first 48-72 h is critical to breastfeeding exclusivity and duration. Mothers who discharge hospital directly breastfeeding are more likely to continue exclusively breastfeeding at 3-months. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of facility-wide implementation of a physiological breastfeeding method (the Thompson method) on direct breastfeeding at hospital discharge and exclusive breastfeeding at 3-months of age. DESIGN: Multi-method design using interrupted time series analysis and surveys. SETTING(S): An Australian tertiary maternity hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 13,667 mother-baby pairs (interrupted time series analysis) and 495 postnatal mothers (surveys). METHODS: The Thompson method includes cradle position and hold, alignment of mouth-to-nipple, baby-led connection and seal, maternal fine-tuning for symmetry, and leisurely duration. We used a large pre-post implementation dataset and conducted interrupted time series analysis using a 24-month baseline period (January 2016 - December 2017); and a 15-month post-implementation period (April 2018 - June 2019). We recruited a sub-sample of women to complete surveys at hospital discharge and 3-months postpartum. Surveys were primarily used to measure impact of Thompson method on exclusive breastfeeding at 3-months, compared with a baseline survey conducted in same setting. RESULTS: Following implementation of the Thompson method, the declining trend in direct breastfeeding at hospital discharge was significantly averted by 0.39% each month relative to baseline (95% CI: 0.03% to 0.76%; p = 0.037). While the 3-month exclusive breastfeeding rate in the Thompson group was 3 percentage points higher than the baseline group; this result did not reach statistical significance. However, a subgroup analysis of women who discharged hospital exclusively breastfeeding revealed the relative odds of exclusive breastfeeding at 3-months in the Thompson group was 0.25 (95% CI: 0.17 to 0.38; p < 0.001), significantly better than the baseline group (Z = 3.23, p < 0.01) where the relative odds was only 0.07 (95% CI: 0.03 to 0.19; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the Thompson method for well mother-baby pairs improved direct breastfeeding trends at hospital discharge. For women who discharged hospital exclusively breastfeeding, exposure to the Thompson method reduced the risk of exclusive breastfeeding discontinuation by 3-months. The positive impact of the method was potentially confounded by partial implementation and a parallel rise in birth interventions which undermine breastfeeding. We recommend strategies to strengthen clinician buy-in to the method, and future research using a cluster randomised trial design. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Facility-wide implementation of the Thompson method improves direct breastfeeding at hospital discharge and predicts breastfeeding exclusivity at 3-months.