Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #397977
Research Project: Impact of Maternal Influence and Early Dietary Factors on Child Growth, Development, and Metabolic Health

Location: Location not imported yet.

Title: Education and experiences of antenatal breastmilk expression: A systematic review

Author
item SOBIK, SARAH - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item CRIMMINS, MEGHAN - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item HAND, MEGAN - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item BLAKE, LINDSEY - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item ANDRES, ALINE - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)

Submitted to: Breastfeeding Medicine
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2022
Publication Date: 2/15/2023
Citation: Sobik, S., Crimmins, M., Hand, M., Blake, L., Andres, A. 2023. Education and experiences of antenatal breastmilk expression: A systematic review. Breastfeeding Medicine. 18(2):107-115. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2022.0225.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2022.0225

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Background: Breastfeeding rates have been stagnated recently despite recommendations to breastfeed until age 2. Antenatal breastmilk expression (ABME) is a method used to prepare the breast for breastfeeding. However, there limited evidence available on the benefits, risks, and impact of ABME on maternal-infant breastfeeding dyads. Methods: This review identified and summarized studies on women who engaged in ABME and their personal experiences. Databases searched included PubMed MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and EMBASE. Initially abstracts and titles were reviewed and then full text studies were screened for inclusion by two blinded authors. Two authors assessed the quality of the studies using a standardized tool, two authors completed data extraction, and one author completed data harmonization into tables. Results: A total of 1,410 studies were identified (after duplicates removed) and 10 citations qualified for inclusion criteria. Only two studies received an overall rating of strong quality and low risk bias. The selected articles varied in primary outcomes; however, main focuses were experiences, knowledge, and perspective after engaging in ABME. Data varied on timing of ABME but most studies started between 34-36 weeks. The average amount of expressed milk was reported in four studies but was variable. Conclusion: This systematic review found that the literature is limited regarding ABME and most studies were focused on women with diabetes. The current limited evidence suggests ABME may be a helpful tool in improving maternal breastfeeding confidence and breastfeeding outcomes. Negative side effects reported related to ABME included difficulty learning the technique, discomfort, and feeling of awkwardness while expressing. Future research should focus on higher quality studies regarding use of ABME, proper teaching of ABME technique, and the use of ABME to improve breastfeeding outcomes in diverse population of the maternal-infant dyad.