Azza M Abul-Fadl,
Biography
Dr. Azza M.A.M. Abul-Fadl (Born in Cairo on 17th July, 1953)Professor of Pediatrics, Benha Faculty of medicine of Benha University. Doctorate thesis jointly from London University and Benha University in Short stature in 1984. MPH degree in Health Policy and Administration from Public Health School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina University, USA. First International Board Lactation Consultant in Egypt in 1997, IBLCE exam in USA.
Research Interest
Breastfeeding promotion, infant and young child feeding, maternal and child health, and public health policy in pediatrics
Abstract
Use of Expressed Antenatal Breastmilk for Babies of High Risk Pregnancies: Knowledge versus Practice and Outcome
Prof. Azza Abul-Fadl*, Dr. Shymaa Wanas*, Dr. Heba Rasmy*, Prof. Mohamed Abdel
Salam**
Faculty staff of Pediatric department* and Obstetric/Gynecology Department** of Benha
Faculty of Medicine, Benha University
Clinical applications of Expressed Antenatal Breastmilk (ABM) in cases where mother-infant
separation is inevitable, is a challenge for ensuring that babies are fed only breastmilk from birth.
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of pregnant
women towards ABM and also to implement this practice for women with and without high risk
pregnancies (HRP). Methods: This was a two staged study: the first stage assessed the KAP of
women with HRP (50) and those without HRP (50) towards ABM. The second stage, the
intervention, we assessed the KAP of women with HRP who practiced ABM (30) and those who
did not (20) and the outcome of use of ABM on their babies growth (in weight and length),
continuity of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at 12 weeks postpartum (pp), breastfeeding
practices. Results: In the first stage both women with HRP and non-HRP had poor KAP towards
ABM. Babies of women with HRP had suboptimal growth indices than the non-HRP (P<0.001).
In the second stage, women with HRP who practiced ABM were initially resistant and had lower
scores of knowledge towards ABM, however on follow-up of feeding patterns, milk intake and
weight-for-age of infants showed higher scores in the HRP exposed to ABM compared to babies
of the non-HRP women who did not practice ABM, although both continued EBF until 12 weeks
of age (P<0.001). Conclusions: Babies of HRP who are exposed to ABM may demonstrate
better growth parameters, probably indicating the critical role of growth factors in this milk
during these early hours and days of the pp period. This practice is by far undervalued and the
use of ABM in medical practice may exceed current expectations for both mother and baby.
However, the significance and scope of ABM in clinical practice requires more intensive
research.
