MODE OF DELIVERY AFFECTING BREAST-FEEDING PRACTICES IN AN NICU OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine the risk of difficulty in breast-feeding due to mode of delivery and its associated factors in neonates.

STUDY DESIGN:         Case-control study.

SETTING/DURATION OF STUDY:    Department of Paediatrics, Combined Military Hospital, Kharian, Jul 2022 to Mar 2023.

 METHODOLOGY:     This study was conducted on 384 mothers and their neonates admitted to the NICU for any indication. Mothers who had a history of breast surgery or irradiation, had a medical contraindication to breastfeeding or neonates who had anatomical facial defects such as cleft lip/palate or those died during admission were excluded. Enrolled participants underwent documentation for maternal, pregnancy, birth and neonatal characteristics while the adequacy of breast-feeding was assessed using the Infant Breast-Feeding Assessment Tool (IBFAT) which was performed at 24-hours of life.

RESULTS:        Our study showed that premature birth         (aOR: 5.9, CI 95% 3.4 – 10.5, p<0.001), birth-weight <2500 g (aOR: 12.1, CI 95% 3.3 – 44.1, p<0.001), maternal body mass index (BMI) >29.9 kg/m² (aOR: 3.9, CI 95% 2.0 – 7.6, p<0.001), previous history of inadequate breast-feeding (aOR: 7.4, CI 95% 3.2 – 17.1, p<0.001), and APGAR score of <7 at ten minutes post-birth (aOR: 8.7, CI 95% 2.7 – 27.2, p<0.001) where associated with an increased odds of not being able to provide adequate breast-feed to neonates.

CONCLUSION: Factors associated with prematurity are associated with poor breast-feeding in neonates.