Factors associated with breastfeeding initiation time in a baby-friendly hospital in Istanbul
Sevil İnal1, Yasemin Aydin2, Nejla Canbulat3
1Istanbul University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Midwifery Department, Bakirkoy, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Delayed newborn physical exams and mother-infant bonding negatively impact early breastfeeding success. Timely interventions are crucial for establishing effective infant feeding practices.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal care
- Neonatal health
- Lactation science
Background:
- Early mother-infant contact and timely pediatric examinations are vital for successful breastfeeding initiation.
- Baby-friendly hospital initiatives aim to optimize the postpartum environment for breastfeeding.
- Understanding the impact of perinatal care timing on breastfeeding outcomes is essential for improving infant nutrition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of perinatal factors on newborn breastfeeding in a Turkish baby-friendly hospital.
- To examine the association between the timing of a pediatrician's first physical examination, mother-infant union, and first breastfeeding attempt.
- To identify potential delays in early postpartum care and their effect on breastfeeding initiation and success.
Main Methods:
- Observational study conducted in a baby-friendly public hospital in Istanbul.
- Data collected from 194 mothers and full-term newborns using a researcher-developed observation form.
- Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to evaluate perinatal care timing and breastfeeding outcomes.
Main Results:
- Newborn physical examinations averaged 53 minutes post-birth, with 64.4% occurring after 30 minutes.
- Mother-infant union averaged 70 minutes post-birth, with 74.7% occurring after 30 minutes.
- Newborns initiating breastfeeding within 30 minutes showed significantly earlier active sucking and required less assistance.
Conclusions:
- Delayed newborn examinations and mother-infant separation in the delivery ward negatively impacted breastfeeding initiation.
- The sequence of early postpartum events, including examinations and bonding, has a cascading effect on breastfeeding success.
- Optimizing the timing of initial physical assessments and mother-infant contact is critical for supporting successful breastfeeding in newborns.
Aim:
To investigate perinatal factors that affect breastfeeding of newborns delivered at a baby-friendly public hospital in Turkey, including the time of the first physical examination by a pediatrician, the first union with their mothers, and the first breastfeeding time after delivery.
Method:
The research was conducted from May 2nd through June 30th, 2011, in a baby-friendly public hospital in Istanbul. The sample consisted of 194 mothers and their full-term newborns. The data were collected via an observation form developed by the researchers. In analyzing the data, the average, standard deviation, minimum, maximum values, Chi-square, and percentages were used.
Results:
The results revealed that the first physical examinations of the newborns were performed approximately 53.02±39min (range, 1-180 min) after birth. The newborns were given to their mothers approximately 69.75±41min (range, 3-190 min) after birth. Consequently, the first initiated breastfeeding took place approximately 78.58±44min following birth, and active sucking was initiated after approximately 85.90±54min. A large percentage of the newborns (64.4%) were not examined by a specialist pediatrician within half an hour of birth, and 74.7% were not united with their mothers within the same period. Also, the newborns who initiated breastfeeding within the first half hour had significantly earlier success with active sucking and required significantly less assistance to achieve successful breastfeeding.
Conclusion:
The newborns in our study met with their mothers late in the birth ward because examinations of the newborns were delayed. The newborns began initial sucking later, and this chain reaction negatively impacted the breastfeeding success of the newborns.
