248720 Breast pump usages, problems and maternal characteristics associated with breast pumps injuries

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 4:48 PM

Youlin Qi, MD, MPH , Center for Devices and Radiological Health, FDA, Silver Spring, MD
Yuanting Zhang, PhD , Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD
Cunlin Wang, MD, PhD , Center for Device and Radiologic Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
Nilsa Loyo-Berrios, PhD, MSc , Center for Device and Radiologic Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
Sara B. Fein, PhD , Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD
     
Introduction

The benefits of breast pump (BP) usage are well documented yet problems associated with usage are still not well understood. This is the first study to characterize the problems and injuries (ever hurt by BP) associated with BP usage.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a longitudinal survey of women from third trimester of pregnancy through their infant's first year of life conducted by the FDA and CDC between 2005 and 2007. The sample was limited to healthy mothers with healthy term or near-term singleton infants, with over 1,000 mothers available for this analysis.

Results

About one in five mothers reported using a previously used BP that was bought, given as a gift or borrowed from an individual. Over half of BP users relied solely on the printed materials that came with the pump to learn how to use BP. Half of BP users were dissatisfied with their BPs. Common problems included poor suction, uncomfortable to use, unable or takes too long to get enough milk. In the multivariate logistic model, baby's age at first BP use (p=.04) and black race (p=.09) are positively related to BP injuries. Compared with mothers who were married and working full time, being divorced (p=.09) and working part-time (p=.04) are associated with lower incidence of BP injuries.

Discussion

More user-friendly instructions should be provided by BP manufactures. More training and education on BP usage are recommended especially for minority and full-time working mothers.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Public health or related education
Public health or related nursing
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe breast pump usages from the federal study, Infant Feeding Practices Study II; 2. Describe common breast pump problems reported by the mothers in the study; 3. Assess and analyze breast pump injuries and characteristics associated with breast pumps injuries

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked extensively on the project
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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