Leveraging mHealth and a milk expression frequency biomarker during postpartum to prolong lactation among parents of critically ill infants: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and potential benefits of personalized biomarker-based text messages in prolonging lactation among parents of critically ill infants. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-six participants were randomized to receive either daily texts with Mother’s Own Milk (MOM) sodium levels or standard care. Surveys at months 1 and 3 assessed whether infants were receiving exclusive MOM feeding, any MOM feeding, and whether the parent was still lactating. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used for time-to-event analysis within and between intervention and control groups. RESULTS: Participants were predominantly on Medicaid (72%), delivered infants <1500 g, and by c-section (56%). Kaplan-Meier probabilities at month 3 suggest prolonged MOM feeding (63% [0.95CI, 0.43–0.91] vs. 41% [0.95CI, 0.21–0.67]) and lactation (63% [0.95CI, 0.42–0.95] vs. 37% [0.95CI, 0.18–0.76]) in the enhanced group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Personalized biomarker-based text messages are feasible and may prolong lactation and MOM feeding among parents of critically ill infants.