The Effect of Breastfeeding and an Intensive Breast Milk Nutritional Support Program on Hospitalization Rates for Hyperbilirubinemia in Term Newborns: An Open Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study was to determine the effect of breastfeeding and intensive breast milk nutritional support program (IBNSP) on hospitalization rates for hyperbilirubinemia in normal term newborns. Methods This study’s sample consisted of 68 newborn infants (experimental group: 34; control group: 34) born at a university hospital from October 2020 to April 2021. Five steps of breastfeeding and IBNSP were administered to the experimental group for the first 48 h after birth. This program starts at the postpartum first hour and continues until the 48th hour. It includes face-to-face training, practical support on breastfeeding, and one-to-one demonstration and practice methods. The control group received the standard care recommended by the World Health Organization. Both groups’ bilirubin levels were measured 24 and 72 h after birth. Participants in both groups were hospitalized for risky (according to bilirubin values) situations. The groups’ bilirubin levels and hospitalization rates for hyperbilirubinemia were compared. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the experimental (5.19 ± 1.27) and the control (5.83 ± 1.52) groups’ bilirubin levels at 24 h after birth, (t = −1.881, p = 0.064); however, the control group infants (12.03 ± 3.67 mg/dl) had higher bilirubin levels than the infants in the experimental group 72 h after birth (9.55 ± 2.82 mg/dl) (t = −3.122, p = 0.003). The experimental group’s hospitalization rate for hyperbilirubinemia (n: 1, 2.9%) was lower than the control group’s rate (n: 8, 23.5%), and this difference was statistically significant (X2 = 6.275, p = 0.014). Conclusions Breastfeeding and IBNSP effectively prevent hospitalization for hyperbilirubinemia and reduce newborns’ bilirubin levels.