Mindfulness and Meditation Based Lactation Education on Maternal Breastmilk in the Neonatal ICU
The Impact of Mindfulness and Meditation Based Lactation Education on Maternal Breastmilk in the Neonatal ICU: Intervention Study
Mayo Clinic
40 participants
Sep 22, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The purpose of this research is to investigate associations between mindfulness and meditation techniques and changes in maternal breastmilk in the mother pumping for her NICU infant.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria7
- Maternal age \> 20 years of age
- Read, write and understand English
- Infant NICU admit
- Infant birthplace of Rochester, MN (Mayo Clinic)
- Maternal adherence to pumping ≥ 8 times in 24 hours
- Mother enrolled within 72 hours of birth
- Gestational age of neonate at birth of \< 34 0/7 weeks
Exclusion Criteria6
- Maternal extensive existing mindfulness practice
- Maternal breast/chest surgery
- Maternal polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Maternal current illicit substance abuse
- Diagnosis of maternal current severe mental health concerns
- Maternal multiple gestation (twins or higher order) pregnancy and delivery
Interventions
No additional session with the lactation consultant will be provided beyond the standard of care lactation admission visit with a lactation consultant within 72 hours of their infant's admission to the NICU. On days 0, 10 and 20, participants will be asked to record pumping session times and breastmilk volumes expressed for 24 hours, collect salivary oxytocin sample and salivary cortisol sample at minute 4 of one pumping session, and fill out the GAD7, PSS, and PHQ-8 surveys.
In addition to the standard of care lactation admission visit, participants will receive an additional session with the lactation consultant for mindfulness-based lactation education. Participants will also be provided with a pumping meditation audio recording that they will be asked to listen to at least once daily for the next 20 days. On days 0, 10 and 20, participants will be asked to record pumping session times and breastmilk volumes expressed for 24 hours, collect salivary oxytocin sample and salivary cortisol sample at minute 4 of one pumping session, and fill out the GAD7, PSS, and PHQ-8 surveys. In addition, the intervention group participants will also be asked to record the number of times they listened to the recording daily, minutes listened to recording daily, and time of day listened to recording.
Locations(1)
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NCT07351799