Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of maternal nutritional supplementation (MNS) in conjunction with a breastfeeding support program on birth outcomes and breastfeeding performance.
Methods: A total of 228 singleton Vietnamese mothers aged 20-35 years at 26-29 weeks of gestation with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) < 25.0 kg/m2 were randomized to the intervention (n = 114), receiving MNS (252 kcal/day) daily up to 12 weeks postpartum and four breastfeeding education and support sessions or to the control (n = 114), receiving standards of care.
Results: The intervention was 2.09 times more likely to exclusively breastfeed over the 12 weeks than the control (95%CI: 1.05-4.13, p = .0358), after controlling for potential confounders. Infant's breast milk intake was significantly higher in the intervention than the control among mothers with baseline mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) < 50th (p = .0251). Infants in the intervention had significantly higher birth weight (p = .0312), birth weight-for-age (p = .0141) and birth head circumference-for-age (p = .0487), and higher head circumference-for-age z-score (p = .0183) development over the postnatal period, compared with the control.
Conclusions: Use of MNS and breastfeeding support improve birth outcomes and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate in Vietnamese mothers. Additionally, it promotes breast milk production among mothers with lower baseline MUAC.
Keywords: Maternal nutritional supplementation; birth outcomes; breast milk intake; breastfeeding support; exclusive breastfeeding.