Objectives To test an educational intervention designed to improve lactation knowledge,
attitudes, and beliefs of NICU nurses and to improve their intentions to provide mothers with
lactation support. Design Quasi-experimental, time-series pretest/posttest. Setting NICU of a
Midwestern, free-standing, tertiary-care children's hospital. Participants Convenience
sample of 64 NICU nurses and 2 separate convenience samples of mothers of infants
hospitalized in the NICU (n= 19 and 13, respectively). Methods Nurses were measured on …

The many benefits of breastfeeding for ill and premature infants are well documented,
including improved immunologic and developmental outcomes and shorter durations of
parenteral nutrition and NICU hospitalization. Despite efforts of professional organizations
such as AAP and WHO and the well-documented evidence promoting breastfeeding in the
group, the actual rate is low. Several barriers have been cited, such as the stressful NICU
environment, parental concern for their infant's condition, maternal perceived lack of …