The most common problems in lactation in the first days postpartum in Polish women - a cross-sectional study.

UNLABELLED: Breastfeeding is the primal form of feeding new-borns and has multiple benefits to mothers and children. However, often introduction of infant formula is necessary due to breastfeeding cessation or infant's inability to thrive on human milk.

AIM: The aim of the study was to analyse elementary lactation problems in the first days postpartum leading up to feeding new-borns with infant formula.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The diagnostic survey that consisted of 28 questions was performed on a group of 194 patients staying at the Obstetrics and New-borns Department of the Duchess Anna Mazowiecka Clinical Hospital in Warsaw from September until December 2018.

RESULTS

Most of respondents that gave birth naturally didn't give the infant formula after birth (62.4%, n=58/93), whereas patients giving birth by caesarean section 69.0% (n=69/100) fed infant formula to new-borns after birth. The administration of infant formula significantly depended on the mode of delivery (p<0.01) and on whether the baby had suckled on the first contact (p<0.01). Moreover, patients with prepregnancy diabetes (81.8%, n=9/11, p<0.05) and obesity (76.2%, n=16/21, p<0.05) were more likely to give children infant formula.

CONCLUSIONS

Feeding with infant formula is more frequent after caesarean section and when there is coexistence of diseases with pregnancy. Suckling the breast during the first skin-to-skin contact has a positive effect on the duration of lactation.