Maltreatment and NICU Infants
Social Work’s Role in Promoting Breastfeeding as a Protective Factor
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18060/25613Keywords:
Maltreatment, Breastfeeding, Attachment, NICU InfantsAbstract
Child maltreatment is a concern for NICU infants who have special care needs at discharge. Improving mother-infant attachment through breastfeeding in a NICU environment may reduce maltreatment for this high-risk, vulnerable population. Breastfeeding an infant in the NICU is a complicated caretaking task yet provides an opportunity to overcome parenting challenges associated with a medically fragile infant by promoting the development of the maternal-infant attachment bond. Breastfeeding can serve as a prevention strategy for child maltreatment by improving attachment and bonding that is oftentimes disrupted between the NICU infant and mother due to the hospitalization. Social workers serve a pivotal role in preventing child maltreatment through education, promotion, and support of breastfeeding policies. This article highlights the role of social work in enhancing mother-infant attachment and advocating for NICU policies that support attachment therefore preventing maltreatment.
References
Alexander, P. (2013). Treating complex stress disorder in children and adolescents. Guilford Press.
Applegate, J., & Shapiro, J. (2005). Neurobiology for clinical social work: Theory and practice. Norton.
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2012). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 129(3), e827-e841. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-3552
Bader, L. (2012). What snakes taught me about the neonatal intensive care unit. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 18, 50-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnn.2012.01.003
Berzoff, J., Flanagan, L. M., & Hertz, P. (2011). Inside out and outside in: Psychodynamic clinical theory and psychopathology in contemporary multicultural context (3rd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield.
Black, A. (2012). Breastfeeding the premature infant and nursing implications. Advances in Neonatal Care, 12(1), 10-14. https://doi.org/10.1097/ANC.0b013e3182425ad6
Briere, C., McGrath, J., Cong, X., & Cusson, R. (2014). An integrative review of factors that influence breastfeeding duration for premature infants after NICU hospitalization. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Neonatal Nursing, 43(3), 272-281. https://doi.org/10.1111/1552-6909.12297
Browne, J., Jaeger, C., Kenner, C., & Gravens Consensus Committee on Infant and Family Centered Development Care. (2020). Executive summary: Standards, competencies, and recommended best practices s for infant- and family-centered developmental care in the intensive care unit. Journal of Perinatology, 40, 5-10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0767-1
Callen, J., & Pinelli, J. (2005). A review of the literature examining the benefits and challenges, incidence and duration, and barriers to breastfeeding preterm infants. Advances in Neonatal Care, 5(2), 72-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adnc.2004.12.003
Castrucci, B., Hoover, K., Lim, S., & Maus, K. (2007). Availability of lactation counseling services influence breastfeeding among infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units. American Journal of Health Promotion, 21(5), 410-415. https://doi.org/10.4278/0890-1171-21.5.410
Centers for Disease Control. (2020). Breastfeeding report card. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm
Chiang, K., Sharma, A., Nelson, J., Olson, C., & Perrine, C. (2019). Receipt of breastmilk by gestational age-United States 2017. Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report, 68(22), 489-493. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6822a1
Craig, J., Glick, C., Phillips, R., Hall, S., Smith, J., & Browne, J. (2015). Recommendations for involving the family in developmental care of the NICU baby. Journal of Perinatology, 35(S1), S5-S8. https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2015.142
Croft, S. (2012). How can family-centered care be improved to meet the needs of parents with a premature baby in the neonatal intensive care? Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 18, 105-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnn.2011.07.008
Davanzo, R., Monasta, L., Ronfani, L., Brovedani, P., & Demarini, S. (2012). Breastfeeding at NICU discharge: A multicenter Italian study. Journal of Human Lactation, 29(3), 374-380. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334412451055
Department of Health and Human Services. (2019). Child Maltreatment 2019. Children’s Bureau. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/cm2019.pdf
Doulougeri, K., Panagopoulou, E., & Montgomery, A. (2013). The impact of maternal stress on initiation and establishment of breastfeeding. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 19, 162-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnn.2013.02.003
Gelles, R., & Perlman, S. (2012). Estimated annual cost of child abuse and neglect. Prevent Child Abuse America. http://preventchildabuse.org/images/research/pcaa_cost_report_2012_gelles_perlman.pdf
Gooding, J., Cooper, L., Blaine, A., Franck, L., Howse, J., & Berns, S. (2011). Family support and family-centered care in the neonatal intensive care unit: Origins, advances, impact. Seminars in Perinatology, 35, 20-28. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.semperi.2010.10.004
Greene, Z., O’Donnell, C., & Walshe, M. (2013). Oral stimulation techniques in preterm infants-International research challenges. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 19, 168-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnn.2013.03.005
Hall, S., Cross, J., Selix, N., Patterson, C., Segre, L., Chuffo-Siewart, R., Geller, P., & Martin, M. (2015). Recommendation for enhancing psychosocial support of NICU parents through staff education and support. Journal of Perinatology, 35, S29-S36. https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2015.147
Hodgkinson, S., Beers, L., Southammakosane, & Lewin, A. (2014). Addressing the mental health needs of pregnant and parenting adolescents. Pediatrics, 133(1), 114-122. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-0927
Hurst, N., Engebreston, J., & Mahoney, J. (2013). Providing mother's own milk in the context of the NICU: A paradoxical experience. Journal of Human Lactation, 29(3), 366-373. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334413485640
Hurst, C. G., Reno, R., & Lefmann, T. (2018). Committing to breastfeeding in social work. Social Work, 63(3), 252-260. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swy028
Hynan, N., Steinberg, Z., Baker, L., Cicco, R., Geller, P., Lassen, S., Milford, C., Mounts, K., Patterson, C., Saxton, S., Segre, L., & Stuebe, A. (2015). Recommendations for mental health support in the NICU. Journal of Perinatology, 35, S14-S15. https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2015.144
Joint Commission. (2010). Advancing effective communication, cultural competence, patient and family centered care: A roadmap for hospitals. https://psnet.ahrq.gov/issue/advancing-effective-communication-cultural-competence-and-patient-and-family-centered-care
Kokorelias, K., Gignac, M., Naglie, G., & Cameron, J. (2019). Towards a universal model of family centered care: A scoping review. BMC Health Services Research, 19, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4394-5
Kremer, K. P., & Kremer, T. R. (2018). Breastfeeding is associated with decreased childhood maltreatment. Breastfeeding Medicine, 13(1), 18-22. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2017.0105
Lasiuk, G., Comeau, T., & Newburn-Cook, C. (2013). Unexpected: An interpretive description parental traumas’ associated with preterm birth. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 13(Supplemental 1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-13-S1-S13
Maastrup, R., Bojesen, S., Kronborg, H., & Hallstrom, I. (2012). Breastfeeding support in Neonatal intensive care: A National Survey. Journal of Human Lactation, 28(3), 370- 379. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334412440846
Martino, K., Wanger, M., Froh, E., Hanlon, A., & Spatz, D. (2015). Postdischarge breastfeeding outcomes of infants with complex surgical anomalies that require surgery. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 44(3), 450-457. https://doi.org/10.1111/1552-6909.12568
National Association of Perinatal Social Workers. (2007). Standards for social work services in the newborn intensive care unit. https://www.napsw.org/assets/docs/NICU-standards.pdf
Owora, A., Chaffin, M., Nandyal, R., Risch, E., Bonner, B., & Carabin, H. (2016). Medical surveillance and child maltreatment incidence reporting among NICU graduates. Social Work in Public Health, 31(7), 607-616. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2016.1160348
Parker, M., Burnham, L., Cook, J., Sanchez, E., Philipp, B., & Merewood, A. (2013). 10 years after baby-friendly designation: Breastfeeding rates continue to increase in a US neonatal care unit. Journal of Human Lactation, 29(3), 354-358. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334413489374
Risch, E., Owora, A., Nandyal, R., Chaffin, M., & Bonner, B. (2014). Risk for child maltreatment among infants discharged from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A sibling comparison. Child Maltreatment 19(2), 92-100.
Rossman, B., Kratovil, A., Greene, M., Engstrom, J., & Meier, P. (2013). “I have faith in my milk:” The meaning of milk for mothers of very low birth weight infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit. Journal of Human Lactation, 29(3), 359-365. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334413484552
Sakalidis, V., & Geddes, D. (2016). Suck-swallow-breathe dynamics in breastfed infants. Journal of Human Lactation, 32(2), 201-211. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334415601093
Scharfe, E. (2012). Maternal attachment representation and initiation and duration of breastfeeding. Journal of Human Lactation, 28(2), 218-225. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334411429111
Schore, A. (2012). Treating complex stress disorder in children and adolescents. Guilford Press.
Sheeran, N., Jones, L., & Rowe, J. (2013). The relationship between maternal age, communication and supportive relationships in the neonatal nursery for mothers of preterm infants. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 19, 327-336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnn.2013.01.006
Smith, P. H. (2018). Social justice at the core of breastfeeding protection, promotion and support: A conceptualization. Journal of Human Lactation, 34(2), 220-225. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334418758660
Strathearn, L., Mamun, A., Najman, J., & O’Callaghan, M. (2009). Does breastfeeding protect against substantiated child abuse and neglect? A 15-year cohort study. Pediatrics, 123(2), 483-493. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-3546
Trainor, K. (2022). Maternal substance use disorder: A look at provider stigma, attitudes, and beliefs. Advances in Social Work, 22, 1, 67-90. https://doi.org/10.18060/24282
Ziadi, M., Heon, M., & Aita, M. (2016). A critical review of interventions supporting transition from gavage to direct breastfeeding in hospitalized preterm infants. Newborn & Infant Nursing Reviews, 16(2), 78-91. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.nainr.2016.03.013
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 JaNeen Cross
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
