Clinical Research Directory

Ankyloglossia and Its Effects on Breastfeeding, Feeding and Speech Disorders. A Prospective Study From Birth to 4 Years of Age.

The diagnosis of ankyloglossia (restrictive lingual frenulum) and the number of frenotomies in infants have sharply increased, raising concerns among the medical community and the ONE. While some studies suggest benefits of frenotomy on breastfeeding, all emphasize the lack of consensus regarding the definition, diagnosis, and classification of ankyloglossia, as well as the scarcity of prospective data on its impact on breastfeeding, feeding, occlusion, and speech. This prospective study aims to determine whether lingual frenulum characteristics influence early breastfeeding difficulties and duration, as well as later feeding, occlusion, and speech outcomes. Breastfed newborns are followed from the first days of life (T1) to age 4 years (T7). During the first 3 months, tongue mobility, frenulum characteristics, breastfeeding, maternal pain, and complications are assessed. Several clinical tools are compared to identify the most reliable ones. Frenulum length is measured using calibrated photographs. Phone follow-ups at 6 months, 1 and 2 years assess feeding outcomes; speech and occlusion are evaluated at 4 years. This project could provide objective data to guide clinicians in evaluating ankyloglossia and making informed frenotomy decisions, improve breastfeeding support, and help parents make evidence-based choices.

Effectiveness of a Counseling Program on Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates in a Primary Care Center

Introduction: Evidence supports that exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is the most beneficial method of infant feeding up to 6 months of age. The practice confers numerous advantages for the infant and the mother. Many breasfeeding are abandoned early due difficulties experienced after dischargue and after returning to work. Development specific early breastfeeding support programs in the community is necessary to avoid unwanted abandonment. Objective: To analyse the differences in BF rates at six month of birth in healthy full-term newborns between the study groups. Methodology: Pilot study of a randomised clinical trial carried out in a Paediatric Nursing clinic at the Ventorrillo Health Centre in A Coruña. The study population will be mothers of healthy full-term newborns who wish to give BF at the time of delivery and whose reference health centre is the one of the study. The mother- newborn dyads in the control group (CG) will receive the usual care described in the child health Program of the Galician Health Service, and the dyads included in the intervention group (IG) will also receive specific advice on breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life. A study sample of 80 participants is estimated for each group. The study will be approved by the Research Ethics Committee of A Coruña-Ferrol. The variables under study will be collected in a data collection notebook for later statistical analysis. A significant value of p \< 0.05 being considered.

Impact of Baby-friedly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) Training Program on Breastfeeding Practices

This study aims to evaluate the impact of Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative training program on nurses' and mothers' breastfeeding practices and experiences. Research Hypotheses * Maternity nurses who participate in the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative training program exhibit improvement in breastfeeding practice scores and more positive breastfeeding experiences after the training program than before. * Breastfeeding mothers who receive Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative support have good breastfeeding practices and more positive breastfeeding experiences.