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Early versus delayed initiation of breastfeeding
M J Renfrew1, S Lang, M W Woolridge
1Mother and Infant Research Unit, University of Leeds, 22 Hyde Terrace, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK, LS2 9LN. m.j.renfrew@leeds.ac.uk
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|May 5, 2000
Summary
Early skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding within 30 minutes of birth did not affect breastfeeding duration. However, early contact enhanced mother-infant communication.
Area of Science:
- Maternal and Infant Health
- Lactation Science
- Neonatal Care
Background:
- The timing of the first breastfeed may impact breastfeeding duration and maternal-infant bonding.
- Early initiation of breastfeeding is a key factor in establishing successful lactation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of early breastfeeding (within 30 minutes) versus delayed breastfeeding (4-8 hours) on breastfeeding duration.
- To assess the impact of early versus delayed breastfeeding on the mother-infant relationship.
Main Methods:
- Searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register for relevant studies.
- Included randomized and quasi-randomized trials comparing early and late skin contact and breastfeeding in healthy term infants.
- Extracted data from three studies involving 209 women.
Main Results:
- Early skin contact and breastfeeding showed a statistically significant association with improved mother-infant communication (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.61).
- No significant difference was observed in the number of women breastfeeding at 12 weeks postpartum between the early and late contact groups (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.34 to 1.54).
Conclusions:
- Early skin contact and breastfeeding initiation do not appear to influence the duration of breastfeeding.
- Early skin contact significantly enhances communication between mothers and their infants.