Effect of Prenatal Counseling on Breastfeeding Rates in Mothers of Twins.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of antenatal breastfeeding counseling on the breastfeeding rates for women who give birth to twins.

DESIGN

Prospective randomized trial.

SETTING

Multiple Pregnancy Unit, Obstetrics Department, University of São Paulo, Brazil.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 171 mothers of twins and their 342 infants.

METHODS

The participants were randomized into the prenatal counseling group (PCG) or control group (CG). Breastfeeding data were collected through personal interviews at three times after birth: 30 to 40 days (Time 1), 90 days (Time 2), and 180 days (Time 3). The primary endpoint was a comparison of the mothers' breastfeeding rates between PCG and CG in each analyzed period. The secondary endpoint was the comparison of the overall rates of twin infant breastfeeding between PCG and CG until 180 days after birth.

RESULTS

The final analysis included 68 women pregnant with twins in the PCG and 60 in the CG. There was no significant difference in the breastfeeding rates between PCG and CG in the analyzed periods: Time 1 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.71, 4.95]), Time 2 (OR = 1.50, 95% CI [0.72, 3.10]), and Time 3 (OR = 1.06, 95% CI [0.51, 2.19]). Also, no difference existed in the overall rates of breastfeeding between PCG and CG at 180 days.

CONCLUSION

In women pregnant with twins, antenatal breastfeeding counseling did not significantly affect the breastfeeding rates. Further research about the best moment to counsel mothers of twins is needed to improve breastfeeding rates.