Sodium Awareness in Lactation Trial

Data-driven interventions to improve early lactation success are lacking, and parents who deliver preterm are at high risk of lactation challenges. We will be studying feasibility, acceptability, and time cost of teaching lactating parents of hospitalized preterm infants how to test their breastmilk sodium (Na) using point-of-care (POC) meters. As a secondary aim, we will assess the potential to use these POC sodium results to guide personalized lactation care in the form of altered pumping schedules in an attempt to reduce breastmilk Na. A drop in Na is a sign of secretory activation in the breast that is associated with adequate short and long-term breast milk volumes in this vulnerable population.