Telelactation Within the Landscape of Breastfeeding Support: Experiences of Latina Parents.
Gabriela Alvarado, Khadesia Howell, Molly Waymouth and 4 others
PMID 39286909WHAT IT FOUND
Latina parents viewed telelactation as a high-quality but burdensome option, using it only after exhausting easier resources like internet searches.
They preferred starting with direct messaging or FAQs before escalating to video calls, and wanted their pediatricians to endorse the service.
Key findings
01Participants followed an escalation protocol, starting with low-burden resources like internet searches and only using telelactation if those failed or the issue was acute.
02Users were satisfied with telelactation's convenience and the IBCLC's demeanor, but non-users cited social anxiety and a belief that video calls were unnecessary for their needs.
03Parents recommended adding direct messaging and curated FAQs to the app, and wanted pediatricians to endorse and coordinate with the telelactation service.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was limited to individuals who had access to a smartphone and digital literacy, potentially excluding those with greater barriers to telehealth. The study focused on one specific telelactation platform (Pacify), so findings may not generalize to services with different structures, such as appointment-based models. Participants were all from the United States and identified as Latina, but the authors note that 'Latin American' experiences are diverse, and the sample may not capture this full range. The interviews took place during the tail end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, which may have influenced preferences for virtual care.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health. One author was a doctoral candidate supervised by another author.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high satisfaction among users as evidence that telelactation improves breastfeeding outcomes. This study describes experiences and preferences, not clinical efficacy, and many participants did not use the service because they resolved issues with lower-level resources.