Literature review for - Flourish Paediatrics

V
Expressing and storing breastmilk
Expression of Breastmilk
Summary
The Cochrane review showed that electrical or foot operated pumps are more efficient than
hand expression. There have been no further SLRs since the Cochrane review.
Introduction
Expression of breastmilk is commonly used in Australia. An online survey of Australian
mothers who were members of the ABA found that 98% of respondent s (n= 903) had
expressed breast milk but only 30% of the sample responded (Clemons and Amir 2010). A
similarly high proportion of US mothers also express. Data from the US National Infant
Feeding Practices Study found that 92% of breastfeeding women had expressed breastmilk at
some time (Labiner-Wolfe, Fein et al. 2008). In the Perth Infant Feeding Study 76% of
mothers at one month increasing to 84% at 5 months had expressed their breastmilk (Win,
Binns et al. 2006).
Cochrane Review Methods of milk expression for lactating women (Becker, McCormick
et al. 2008)
“Background: Breastfeeding is important for health. However, not all infants can feed at the
breast and effective methods of expressing milk have not been adequately evaluated.
Objectives: To assess acceptability, effectiveness, safety, effect on milk composition,
bacterial contamination of milk and cost implications of a range of methods of milk
expression, including hand expression and manual, battery and electric pumps.
Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group’s Trials
Register (December 2007), CINAHL (1982 to July 2007), hand searched relevant journals
and conference proceedings, scanned secondary references and contacted experts in the field.
Selection criteria: Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials that compared one
method or technique of milk expression or pumping with other(s), at any time after birth, and
cross-over trials that commenced at least 28 days after birth.
Data collection and analysis: Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted
data. We sought additional information from the trial authors.
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