MINDFULNESS-BASED BREASTFEEDING EDUCATION PROGRAM (MIND-BF)

June 9, 2026 updated by: Nuray KURT, Firat University

EFFECT OF MINDFULNESS-BASED BREASTFEEDING EDUCATION PROGRAM ON BREASTFEEDING OUTCOMES IN MOTHERS NOT EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFEEDING: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of a mindfulness-based breastfeeding education program on breastfeeding outcomes among mothers who are not exclusively breastfeeding. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group will receive a mindfulness-based breastfeeding education program in addition to routine care. Breastfeeding outcomes, maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy, and related variables will be assessed following the intervention.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Breastfeeding is one of the most important practices for improving maternal and infant health. However, many mothers experience difficulties maintaining exclusive breastfeeding during the postpartum period. Psychological stress, anxiety, low breastfeeding confidence, and difficulties adapting to motherhood may negatively affect breastfeeding behaviors and contribute to early supplementation with formula or other foods.

Mindfulness-based approaches have been increasingly used to support maternal psychological well-being and health-related behaviors. These approaches aim to increase awareness of present-moment experiences in a non-judgmental manner and may help mothers engage more consciously in the breastfeeding process. Previous studies suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may improve maternal coping, emotional regulation, and breastfeeding experiences. However, evidence regarding their effectiveness among mothers who are not exclusively breastfeeding remains limited.

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of a mindfulness-based breastfeeding education program on breastfeeding awareness, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and exclusive breastfeeding rates among postpartum mothers who are not exclusively breastfeeding. Participants are randomly assigned to either a mindfulness-based breastfeeding education group or a control group receiving routine postpartum care. The intervention includes structured breastfeeding education combined with mindfulness-based practices conducted over four weeks. Outcomes are assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and during follow-up assessments postpartum.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

86

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Elâzığ, Turkey (Türkiye), 23100
        • Family Health Centres (FHCs) in the provincial centre of Elazığ, Türkiye

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being 18 years of age or older, being in the first month postpartum, having a full-term, singleton, and healthy infant, and not exclusively breastfeeding the infant (i.e., using formula or other foods in addition to breast milk)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having previously received mindfulness or similar training, having a diagnosed psychiatric disorder, and having any condition that impairs communication.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Mindfulness-Based Breastfeeding Education Group
Participants received a 4-week mindfulness-based breastfeeding education program consisting of two individual sessions per week (50-60 minutes each) delivered by a trained midwife. The program combined breastfeeding education with mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques (breathing meditation, body scan, sitting meditation, mountain meditation, and loving-kindness meditation). Practical breastfeeding training was supported using a doll and breast model. Participants also received audio-guided mindfulness exercises and a mindful movement/yoga video for daily home practice, in addition to routine postpartum care.
Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Breastfeeding Education Group
A 4-week mindfulness-based breastfeeding education program was implemented, consisting of two individual sessions per week (50-60 minutes each) delivered by a trained midwife. The intervention combined breastfeeding education with mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques, including breathing meditation, body scan meditation, sitting meditation, mountain meditation, and loving-kindness (Metta) meditation. Practical breastfeeding training was provided using a doll and breast model to support skill acquisition. Participants were also given audio-guided mindfulness exercises and a mindful movement/yoga video for daily home practice in addition to routine postpartum care.
Other Names:
  • mindful breastfeeding group
No Intervention: Control Group
Participants received routine postpartum follow-up and standard breastfeeding counseling provided at Family Health Centres. No additional mindfulness-based intervention was administered. Counseling included brief education and support related to breastfeeding as part of standard care.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mindful Breastfeeding Scale
Time Frame: Baseline, 4th week postpartum, 4th month postpartum
This is a 9-item measurement tool designed to assess awareness-based breastfeeding practices during the postpartum period. The scale is unidimensional and was developed using a 5-point Likert scale. Responses to the scale items range from "always" to "never." The total score on the scale ranges from 9 to 45, and as the total score increases, the level of awareness regarding breastfeeding also increases.
Baseline, 4th week postpartum, 4th month postpartum

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Firat University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

  • Kurt N, Uçar T, Effect of mindfulness-based breastfeeding education on breastfeeding outcomes: a randomized controlled trial. Manuscript in preparation.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

October 31, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 15, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

July 14, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 14, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 9, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2023/5132
  • 966799 (Other Identifier: fırat üniversitesi)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

IPD will not be shared to protect participant confidentiality and in accordance with ethical approval and informed consent restrictions.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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