Effectiveness of Relactation Supportive Program in Sustaining Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Prospective Observational...

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Child Health
• Lactation Science
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Relactation involves re-establishing breastfeeding after cessation or reduced intake.
• Understanding factors influencing successful relactation is crucial for infant nutrition.
• The study addresses the need for effective interventions to support breastfeeding mothers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the Relactation Supportive Program (RSP) in sustaining breastfeeding.
• To determine the impact of RSP on breastfeeding initiation and timing.
• To explore the correlation between RSP, lactation gap, and relactation success.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study involving 60 infant-mother dyads.
• Participants had stopped breastfeeding for 6-28 days or never breastfed.
• Intervention group received RSP (hands-on guidance, psychological support); control group received Routine Counseling (RC).

Main Results:

• Exclusive breastfeeding was achieved and sustained by six months in 21 infants in the RSP group versus 10 in the RC group (p=0.003).
• Lactation initiation was earlier in the RSP group (10.04±4.02 days) compared to the RC group (13.43±3.59 days) (p=0.002).
• Relactation duration showed an inverse correlation with the lactation gap.

Conclusions:

• The Relactation Supportive Program (RSP) significantly enhances early and sustained relactation.
• RSP demonstrates superior outcomes compared to routine counseling alone for breastfeeding mothers.
• The findings support the integration of RSP into maternal healthcare to improve breastfeeding success.