[Breast feeding habits before and after the introduction of a partial rooming-in system]

From January 1981 to May 1982 a prospective study was conducted investigating the breast-feeding patterns following the introduction of a partial rooming-in-system in 1978. The present data were compared to a previous survey from the period before 1977. The incidence of breast-feeding increased over that time from 67% to 86,6%. Accordingly the rate of non-breast-feeding mothers decreased from 33% to 13,4%. In 10% of these mothers lactation-inhibition was carried out with drugs and in 3,4% a severe hypogalactia was found. The lactation-inhibition was carried out in 80% for maternal and in 20% for neonatal reasons. Concerning the maternal causes one-third of the mothers did not want to breast-feed; other predominant causes were severe hypogalactia, adoption of the baby, maternal diseases, breast-feeding problems following preceding deliveries and single cases of mastitis and state after mamma-surgery. Among the neonatal reasons prematurity was predominating, followed by antenatal fetal death and perinatal death, malformations and diseases of the infant. Our results suggest, that the introduction of a partial rooming-in led to an increase of the incidence of breast-feeding at our department. Certainly, however, also the current trend back towards breast-feeding has contributed to these results. Nevertheless, we believe that much could still be improved by more adequate medical advice, which should start during pregnancy already. A reasonable promotion of breast-feeding should be the concern of all obstetricians today.