Intervention and data collection method
38–36
After identifying the eligible people, in the 30th week of pregnancy, one of the researchers contacted the mother and explained the objectives of the study. The research sample was present at the comprehensive health center in the 30–33 week of pregnancy (in accordance with routine pregnancy care). At the time of registration of this trial, the following times were determined for intervention (the first session in weeks 31 to 34—the second session in weeks 35–37—the third session in weeks 38 to 40). Before the start of the intervention, the researchers concluded that some mothers may give birth at 38 weeks (before they received the third counseling session). Therefore, the time of the third session was changed to week 36–38, according to which, the time of the first and second session was also changed.After that, the participants were assigned to the intervention or control group according to the envelope number. They were then asked to complete a demographic-clinical questionnaire and the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale (BSES). If the person was in the intervention group, the first counseling session was conducted by a researcher who was a master's student in midwifery counseling with ample experience in the delivery unit and breastfeeding counseling; then arrangements were made to participate in the next sessions. she provided three individual, face-to-face counseling sessions lasting 60–90 min in one of the rooms of the comprehensive health center. Before each session, the participants were contacted by phone to coordinate the next session, and if they had any questions, the researcher answered them. In total, each person was contacted twice.The counseling was based on the Ready Set Baby curriculum, which includes a 28-page color booklet divided into four sections and a flip chart. The materials cover 14 subject headings at a sixth-grade reading level and are taught by a counselor. The counseling sessions were personalized to the individual needs and interests of the participants, with the counselor asking questions before each topic to determine their thoughts and adjust the discussion accordingly [Counseling sessionsFirst session(30–33 weeks)Staying healthy during and after pregnancyMother's knowledge about breastfeedingSecond session(34–36 weeks)Third session(36–38 weeks)Counseling was provided according to GATHER counseling principles in each session. The GATHER principles are “Greet”: warm and friendly communication and welcoming the woman. “Ask”: interaction with the woman and ask her about that session's topic. “Tell”: giving information and explanation about that session's topic. “Help”: Helping her to make the best choices. “Explain”: more explanation about the topic, and “Return”: follow up of the woman in the next sessions.The content of the RSB program was examined and endorsed by five faculty members from the Hamadan School of Nursing and Midwifery. The control group received regular care, and both groups filled out the BSES questionnaire after the third session at the age of 38–36 weeks. Moreover, the researcher evaluated the mothers from both groups using the (Breastfeeding Assessment Tool) BBAT on the 3rd to 5th day post-delivery.