Comparing timing of hand expressing of breast milk with breast massage to standard care for mothers of preterm infants between 28 and 35 weeks' gestation: a pilot randomised controlled trial (PREM Trial)

To confidently provide guidance to mothers of preterm infants between 28 and 35 weeks, who are manually expressing, it is important that the information provided is based on evidence. We aim to conduct a pilot randomised control trial (RCT) comparing timing of expression to standard care. A total of 30 participants will be randomly divided into two groups; both will be given standard care that is already occurring at the hospital however, breast milk expression will commence at a different time following birth for each group and massage will be demonstrated to the intervention group. The primary outcomes include feasibility of the study methods which will be used to design a larger study. The secondary outcomes include primary outcomes for a larger trial, including, milk supply volume and occurrence of engorgement and mastitis.