A study of factors promoting and inhibiting lactation.

The present series of studies, made between 1972 and 1975, has shown that existing routines in the maternity ward, such as weighing the baby before and after breast feeding, can inhibit the establishment of lactation and increase the number of early failures. Giving information to the father in the maternity ward may be an important factor in promoting breast-feeding, as judged from the findings on duration of breast feeding and from the mothers' comments. The greatest effect observed was that of skin-to-skin and suckling contact during the first hour after delivery, which increased the median duration of breast feeding by 2 1/2 months. These findings illustrate that existing routines during the neonatal period should be re-examined as to their influence in promoting or inhibiting breast feeding.