This randomised controlled trial investigated whether antenatal breastfeeding education alone or postnatal lactation support alone improves rates of exclusive breastfeeding compared with routine hospital care. Participants comprised 450 women with uncomplicated pregnancies at a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Compared with women who received routine care, women receiving antenatal education were much more likely to breastfeed exclusively at six weeks, three months, and six months postnatally; women in the postnatal support group were more likely to breastfeed exclusively at two weeks, six weeks, three months, and six months postnatally. The numbers needed to treat to achieve one woman exclusively breast feeding at six months were 11 for postnatal support and 10 for antenatal education. In conclusion, hospital-based interventions comprising antenatal breastfeeding education and postnatal lactation support significantly improve rates of exclusive breastfeeding up to six months after delivery.
