Lactation management in NWFP

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted in the Lactation Management Clinic of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from March 1992 to June 1995 and a total of 3124 mother and infant pairs were studied for lactation related problems and events. A total of 1752 mothers [56.08%] were already following optimum breast feeding practices, their positive behaviour was reinforced; 596 [19.08%] mothers were partially breast feeding their babies while 776 [24.84%] mothers were completely bottle feeding their babies because of lactation failure. Relactation was tried in all mothers [n=1372] who had lactation failure or were partially breast feeding their babies and it was successful in 778 [56.71%] mothers. Failures were mostly in out-patient cases because of poor compliance and lack of follow up visits. Relactation was also tried in 10 grandmothers, because of failed relactation in mothers or death of the mothers. It was successful in 9 cases [90%]. Induced lactation was tried in two women for 2 months, who never had been pregnant and had adopted babies, but this was unsuccessful