Theory-based classes raised mothers' confidence and the number feeding only breast milk.

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   5,678 mothers took part in 23 trials. Most were 29 years old and lived in the USA, and they were healthy and planned to breastfeed or already did.

2. 02

   What they did

   Classes were built on one of two ideas: belief in your own ability, or intentions, attitudes and feeling in control. Most classes were in groups, were held more than twice, and averaged 2.5 hours. The other group got usual care or no treatment.

3. 03

   What happened

   Mothers in the classes felt more confident at one to two months than the other group did. More of them fed only breast milk at one to two months, and at three to six months. For the confidence result, a check found signs that studies with weaker results were not published.

What the review found

1. HelpedMotivation

   Across 16 studies, theory-based classes made mothers more confident at one to two months than usual care did.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested

   Pooled analysis of 16 studies · vs mothers who got usual care or no treatment · they rated themselves · ⚠ signs that small negative studies went unpublished; the studies disagreed a lot; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

2. HelpedGoals

   Across seven studies, more mothers fed only breast milk at one to two months than usual care did.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested

   Pooled analysis of 7 studies · vs mothers who got usual care or no treatment · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

3. HelpedGoals

   Across eight studies, more mothers fed only breast milk at three to six months than usual care did.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested

   Pooled analysis of 8 studies · vs mothers who got usual care or no treatment · they rated themselves · ⚠ the studies disagreed a lot; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

Source