Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40660268›Full record

SynthesisInternational breastfeeding journal2025

Supporting breastfeeding when clinical nutrition interventions are required in the paediatric healthcare setting: a systematic review.

Jamie L Errico, Tammie S T Choi, Maurizio Pacilli, Zoe E Davidson

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International breastfeeding journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Jamie L ErricoDepartment of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. jamie.ross@monash.edu.
Tammie S T ChoiDepartment of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Maurizio PacilliDepartment of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Zoe E DavidsonDepartment of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBreastfeeding is often compromised when clinical nutrition interventions are implemented for complex paediatric patients, in a healthcare environment where breastfeeding supports are currently under-resourced. This systematic review aimed to investigate how breastfeeding can be supported when it is disrupted for clinical nutrition interventions in the paediatric healthcare setting. The experience of mothers who breastfeed their child requiring nutrition support and/or therapeutic dietary measures is also explored.

methodA search was conducted across five databases; Ovid-Medline, Ovid-Embase, CINAHL Complete, Scopus and Cochrane Library. Eligible papers included breastfeeding dyads where the infant/child required a nutrition intervention in the global paediatric healthcare setting, limited to those published in the English language and year 2000 onwards. Manuscripts that focused on preterm infants, maternity or neonatal care settings, healthcare professionals, or a maternal clinical condition impacting breastfeeding were excluded. Results were synthesised into key measures to support breastfeeding and overarching themes illustrating a mother's experience breastfeeding her child with complex nutritional needs.

resultsFrom 13,177 manuscripts screened, a total of 36 manuscripts were included. Clinical conditions in the manuscripts identified included congenital heart disease, congenital anomalies, inborn errors of metabolism, acute and chronic respiratory conditions, trisomy 21, faltering growth and hyperbilirubinaemia. Measures to support breastfeeding (n = 19 primary research studies and n = 5 case studies) encompassed environmental modifications and improvements to hospital procedures; access to lactation support professionals and education; and clinical practices that facilitated breastfeeding. Key themes across papers exploring maternal experience (n = 12 manuscripts) were difficulties breastfeeding a child with complex nutritional needs; a desire to breastfeed that informed maternal identity and emotions; and a supportive healthcare team that promoted breastfeeding.

conclusionThis review highlights environmental and practical strategies that can optimise breastfeeding for paediatric patients receiving clinical nutrition interventions and support maternal feeding intentions. Many strategies to support breastfeeding are geared towards supporting lactation physiology to increase maternal milk supply. More research is needed to explore what psychological and emotional supports mothers need from the healthcare team when encountering breastfeeding difficulties and unmet expectations feeding a nutritionally complex child.

Indexed as

Breast FeedingMothersFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornBreast feedingClinical nutritionDietary therapyFamily centred careInfant feedingNutrition supportPaediatricsPerinatal careWoman centred care

Identifiers

PMID40660268
PMCPMC12261652

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.