A structured programme to promote breastfeeding improved the rates in very preterm infants at discharge

Abstract Aim We developed the Promotion of Breastfeeding (PROBREAST) programme and evaluated what effect it had on the breastfeeding rate in infants born at less than 32 weeks of gestation or weighing ≤1500 grams. Methods We compared the breastfeeding rate in two cohorts of patients who were born before ( n = 72; January 2017 to June 2018) and after ( n = 80; July 2018 to December 2019) the application of the programme. Moreover, we compared the correlation between type of feeding at discharge and post‐discharge breastfeeding rate, between exclusive breastfeeding, postnatal growth and neurodevelopment. Results Infants in the PROBREAST group had an exclusive breastfeeding rate at discharge higher (42 vs. 16%, p < 0.001) than that in the historical control group. Exclusive breastfeeding was negatively correlated with weight z‐score at discharge, but not at 12 and 24 months corrected age, and was positively correlated with cognitive score at 24 months corrected age. Conclusion The application of a structured programme for the promotion of breastfeeding improved the breastfeeding rate in very preterm infants. We demonstrated that exclusive breastfeeding at discharge improved their neurodevelopment without impairing growth.