Effects of White Noise Combined with Breastfeeding Guidance on Exclusive Breastfeeding Success Rate and Anxiety Status in Primiparous Women with Delayed Lactation Onset.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the effects of white noise combined with breastfeeding guidance on the exclusive breastfeeding success rate, anxiety status, and lactation function in primiparous women with delayed lactation onset; neonatal stress levels; and infants' physical development.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on 120 primiparous women with delayed lactation onset admitted to Zhejiang Hospital from January 2023 to June 2024. The women were divided into a combination group ( n  = 60; conventional breastfeeding guidance + white noise measure) and a conventional group ( n  = 60; only conventional breastfeeding guidance), with a 4-week nursing period for both groups. The related indicators were compared between the two groups, including exclusive breastfeeding rate, LATCH (Latch, Audible swallowing, Type of nipple, Comfort, Hold/Positioning) score, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) score, lactation indices, neonatal stress scale (NSS) score, and infant growth.

RESULTS

After nursing, the combination group had significantly higher exclusive breastfeeding rate ( P  = 0.009) and LATCH score, lower SAS score, shorter lactation onset, and greater residual milk volume than the conventional group (all P < 0.001 except for the breastfeeding rate). The combination group had significantly lower neonatal stress scores and greater grains in weight, length, and head circumference at 4 weeks (all P < 0.001). The combined intervention independently predicted exclusive breastfeeding success (OR = 2.68, 95% CI 1.25-5.76) and was associated with lower SAS (β = -7.28, P  = 0.002), lower NSS scores (β = -2.45, P < 0.001), and shorter lactation onset (β = -10.25, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

White noise combined with breastfeeding guidance can effectively improve the exclusive breastfeeding success rate and lactation function of primiparous women with delayed lactation onset, alleviate maternal anxiety, reduce neonatal stress levels, and promote infant physical development.