TY - JOUR TI - The effect of body and mind stress-releasing techniques on the breastfeeding of full-term babies; a critical analysis of published interventional studies AU - Fotiou, C. AU - Siahanidou, T. AU - Vlastarakos, P.V. AU - Tavoulari, E.F. AU - Chrousos, G. JO - Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine PY - 2018 VL - 31 TODO - 1 SP - 98-105 PB - Taylor and Francis Ltd. SN - 1476-7058, 1476-4954 TODO - 10.1080/14767058.2016.1275547 TODO - alternative medicine; body stress releasing technique; breast feeding; case study; clinical effectiveness; cognition; evidence based medicine; follow up; human; intervention study; mind stress releasing technique; population research; practice guideline; priority journal; randomized controlled trial (topic); Review; sensory stimulation; therapy effect; breast feeding; mental stress; psychology; therapy, Breast Feeding; Humans; Mind-Body Therapies; Stress, Psychological TODO - Objective: To critically assess the effectiveness of complementary/alternative medicine modalities, comprising body/mind stress-releasing techniques, on the breastfeeding (BF) success of mothers of full-term newborns. Methods: Literature review in Medline and other available database sources until December 2015, and critical analysis of pooled data. The study selection included randomized-controlled trials, case–control studies, and case series. Results: The total number of analyzed studies was 9. Among them, three represented level-I, two level-II, one level-III, and three level-IV evidence. The pooled maternal population was 2135. Interventions that could influence cognition management seem effective in improving BF initiation and duration (strength of recommendation B), manual relaxation techniques in promoting BF initiation (strength of recommendation B), and auditory-mediated mind guidance in promoting BF duration (strength of recommendation C). The implementation of environmental sensory stimulations improves maternal perception about breastfeeding practice (strength of recommendation C). Conclusions: Certain methods of complementary and alternative medicine show positive effect on breastfeeding. Further studies with good quality evidence, dedicated follow-up of the families after discharge, and strict definitions of breastfeeding and weaning are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of the identified interventions. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. ER -