Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at 3, 4 and 6 months in Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at 3, 4, and 6 months postpartum in women who delivered at Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira Hospital, and to evaluate the potential factors for continuation of exclusive breastfeeding. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective descriptive study was performed in 210 mothers who delivered in the authors' institution between December 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007. All eligible subjects were interviewed before discharge from the hospital. The successive postpartum interviews were then conducted via telephone at 3, 4, and 6 months after delivery. RESULTS: Average maternal age was 27 years and over half (54.3%) were primipara. Rates of exclusive breastfeeding at 3, 4, and 6 months were 48%, 26%, and 11% respectively. Significant factors for exclusive breastfeeding were duration allowed for work absence and intended time to breastfeed. CONCLUSION: Approximately half of the mothers in the present study provided exclusive breastfeeding to their babies in the first 3-month postpartum. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months was lower than the 30% goal of the 9th National Economic and Social Development Plan. The need to return to work and intended time to breastfeed were the significant factors affecting duration of exclusive breastfeeding.

First trimester umbilical cord and vessel diameters of Thai fetuses.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the reference ranges for first trimester umbilical cord and vessel diameters of Thai fetuses. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective study was performed on normal pregnant women between 10(+0) and 13(+6) weeks of gestation who underwent ultrasound examination. The diameter measurements were obtained by a 7.5 MHz vaginal--or a 3.75 MHz abdominal transducer. Statistics were analyzed using SPSS computer program. RESULTS: Records of 184 pregnancies were analyzed and the outcome demonstrated a strong correlation between umbilical cord diameter and gestational age (r = 0.90; p < 0.001). Umbilical vessel diameters were also correlated with gestational age. CONCLUSION: First trimester umbilical cord and vessel diameters of Thai fetuses are related to gestational age. The presented reference ranges might be useful for further studies, such as prediction of adverse pregnancy outcome or combination with biochemical or other ultrasound markers for fetal aneuploidy screening.