PENGARUH KONSELING LAKTASI OLEH BIDAN TERHADAP KECUKUPAN ASI PADA IBU MENYUSUI

Abstract

Background: Breast milk is the optimal source of nutrition for infants because it provides complete nutrients, antibodies, enzymes, hormones, and growth factors essential for healthy growth and development. Despite its well-established benefits, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain below national targets. One of the major barriers to successful breastfeeding is inadequate maternal knowledge and skills regarding breastfeeding techniques and lactation management. Lactation counseling provided by midwives is a health promotion intervention designed to improve maternal knowledge, confidence, and breastfeeding practices, thereby enhancing breast milk adequacy. Objective: To analyze the effect of lactation counseling provided by midwives on breast milk adequacy among breastfeeding mothers. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest with control group design was conducted among 60 postpartum mothers, divided into an intervention group (n=30) and a control group (n=30). The intervention group received individualized lactation counseling delivered by trained midwives using educational modules and breastfeeding demonstrations, whereas the control group received routine postpartum education. Breast milk adequacy was assessed using breastfeeding effectiveness indicators, feeding frequency, infant weight gain, infant urination frequency, and LATCH scores. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, paired t-test, independent t-test, and ANCOVA with a 95% confidence level. Results: The mean breast milk adequacy score in the intervention group increased significantly from 6.18 ± 1.04 to 9.02 ± 0.86 (p<0.001), while the control group showed only a slight, non-significant improvement. The increase in breast milk adequacy scores was significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group (p<0.001). ANCOVA demonstrated that lactation counseling was the strongest predictor of improved breast milk adequacy after adjustment for maternal age, education, parity, and employment status. Conclusion: Lactation counseling provided by midwives significantly improves breast milk adequacy among breastfeeding mothers. Routine integration of lactation counseling into antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care is recommended to support successful exclusive breastfeeding