The effect of showing photos, videos, and live images of non-breastfed premature infants to mothers during milk expression on breast milk volume, mother-infant bonding, and breastfeeding self-efficacy: a randomized controlled experimental study

Aim: This study aims to determine the effect of showing photos, videos, and live images of non-breastfed premature infants treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to their mothers during milk expression on breast milk volume, mother-infant bonding, and breastfeeding self-efficacy. Methods: This is a stratified randomized controlled experimental study completed with 160 mothers. The study includes four groups: photo, video, live image, and control groups. Data collection tools include a data collection form, breast milk volume tracking form, mother-infant bonding scale, and postpartum breastfeeding self-efficacy scale (short form). The interventions lasted four days for each mother. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used for data analysis. Findings: At the end of the study, a statistically significant difference was found in the four-day breast milk volume among the groups (p<0.001). The average breast milk volume of mothers in the photo, video, and live image groups was higher than that of the control group (p<0.001). The average breast milk volume of mothers in the video and live image groups was also significantly higher than that of mothers in the photo group. In all groups, the post-test mother-infant bonding scale scores decreased compared to the pre-test, but this difference was not significant (p>0.05). The post-test postpartum breastfeeding self-efficacy scale scores increased compared to the pre-test in all groups, and this difference was statistically significant in all groups except the video group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Showing video recordings or live images of the infant to the mother during milk expression was found to be the most effective method for increasing breast milk volume. The applied methods had no effect on mother-infant bonding. Since the pre-test postpartum breastfeeding self-efficacy scale scores were not homogeneously distributed among the groups, the effect of the applied methods on mothers' breastfeeding self-efficacy could not be determined. Keywords: neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), preterm infant, breast milk quantity, maternal-infant bonding, breastfeeding self-efficacy.