Effect of online infant care training and postpartum counseling based on Meleis' transition theory on mothers' readiness for care and breastfeeding: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Mothers must acquire the knowledge and skills needed to fulfill their responsibilities and take care of themselves and their babies.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of online baby care education and postpartum counseling based on Meleis' transition theory on mothers' readiness for baby care and breastfeeding.

Method: This randomized controlled trial was conducted between May 2022 and May 2023 at the pregnancy follow-up outpatient clinic of a state hospital. The study sample consisted of 102 pregnant women (52 in the intervention group, 50 in the control group).

Results: The mean scores of the intervention group compared to the control group were significantly higher immediately after birth and at 1, 2, and 3 months postpartum. Change over time was significantly higher in repeated measurements of National Institute of Child Health and Human Development scale scores of the intervention and control groups (P=0.001). In the first 24 hours, mothers in the intervention group breastfed more successfully than those in the control group (P<0.001). Mothers in the intervention group exclusively breast fed at a significantly higher rate immediately and at 1, 2, and 3 months postpartum compared to the control group (P<0.001). A statistically significant difference was noted in mean infant height and weight in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Theory-based online education initiated during pregnancy and counseling continued up to 3 months postpartum positively affected the mothers' abilities to care for their infants. Mothers who received education and counseling breastfed their babies more successfully on the first day and breast fed exclusively at a higher rate in the first 3 months.