Initiation of lactation and establishing relactation in outpatients.

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to evaluate whether mothers with babies less than 6 weeks of age can be helped to initiate or establish lactation in outpatient department. One thousand mothers with babies less than 6 weeks of age who completed 10 days of follow-up in outpatient have been analyzed. Mothers who had either stopped breastfeeding or were not able to initiate breastfeeding were helped with establishing lactation at outpatient clinic. Sick babies and mothers having breast problem and systemic illness were excluded. 91.6% of mothers succeeded in establishing lactation within 10 days. 83.4% mothers achieved complete lactation and 8.2% of mothers achieved partial lactation in 10 days. However, 8.4% of mothers could not be helped in this study. They had to be hospitalized because of various reasons. It is possible to help majority of mothers with lactation difficulties at the outpatient when the baby is less than 6 weeks of age. Helping mothers with proper attachment at the breast appears to be crucial for success.