Bonding, Relaxation, Separation, and Connection: Expressing Human Milk While Videoconferencing with the Hospitalized Premature Infant

Breast milk feeding is an essential component of safe and effective care of the hospitalized premature infant. There are numerous barriers that impact breast milk expression during a preterm infant's hospitalization. We aimed to explore the experience of using videoconferencing with one's hospitalized premature infant while expressing breast milk. We conducted a qualitative study using purposive sampling to recruit lactating parents of premature (<34 weeks) hospitalized infants. We conducted semistructured interviews using an interview guide with 14 open-ended questions regarding the breast milk expression experience. Data collection and analysis were performed iteratively and were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis with a constant comparative approach. Data were organized into themes. Interview recruitment was discontinued when thematic saturation was reached. Seventeen participants completed the interviews and four themes were identified: (1) videoconferencing promotes bonding and connection with the hospitalized infant, (2) videoconferencing provides motivation to pump, (3) videoconferencing reminds participants of the realities of separation from their infant, and (4) videoconferencing connects the whole family to the hospitalized infant. Users of videoconferencing with their hospitalized neonate reported an improved pumping experience while expressing milk for their premature infant. Videoconferencing is also a tool that can connect the whole family to the infant. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03957941) under the title "FamilyLink and Breastfeeding."