Effect of telelactation on exclusive breastfeeding and pacifier use by infants: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

This randomized controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effect of telelactation on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and pacifier use in infants with and without ankyloglossia and to determine the prevalence of ankyloglossia. Pregnant women (n-1300) in their third trimester, seen at a public maternity hospital, will initially answer a questionnaire. After filling out the questionnaire, all the pregnant women will receive, via a messenger application, digital material (DM) with guidelines on breastfeeding. After delivery, data on the lingual frenulum and the presence of ankyloglossia will be collected at the maternity hospital. 5-7 days after delivery, the dyads will be followed up by telephone to collect initial information on the practice of BF. From this first call, the dyads will be randomly assigned to the following groups: A1) with ankyloglossia given DM + telelactation; A2) with ankyloglossia given DM only; B1) without ankyloglossia given DM + telelactation, or B2) without ankyloglossia given DM only. Dyads will be followed by telephone until the infant is six months old or until breastfeeding is stopped. Linear regression models will be applied, considering the effects of group, telelactation, and the interaction between them, and the prevalence of ankyloglossia will be estimated with the respective 95% confidence interval. (AU)