Effect of Obesity and Early Breastfeeding Initiation on Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates.

Objective: To compare the 6-week postpartum, exclusive breastfeeding rates between obese mothers and mothers with a normal body mass index (BMI), with early breastfeeding initiation. Material and Method: The subjects were 415 singleton, postpartum, obese mothers who delivered without complications at the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center in the Nakhon Nayok province between the years of 2013 through 2015 and the same number of matched normal body mass index mothers. The early breastfeeding initiation of both the obese mothers and the normal BMI mothers was recorded. The exclusive breastfeeding rates were collected at the second day postpartum. Following discharge, telephone follow-ups were used for the collection of breastfeeding data at the 7th, 14th day and six weeks postpartum. The exclusive breastfeeding rates of the obese mothers were analyzed and compared with the exclusive breastfeeding rates of normal BMI mothers at the 2nd, 7th, 14th day and 6 weeks postpartum. The data was analyzed by Chi-square, relative risk and 95% confidence interval. Results: At the 2nd, 7th, 14th day and 6th week postpartum; the exclusive breastfeeding rates of the obese mothers' group were 94.5, 71.1, 64.8 and 51.3%, respectively. The exclusive breastfeeding rates of the normal BMI mothers' group for the same periods were 95.7, 79.3, 75.4 and 63.1%, respectively. There are statistically significant differences between the exclusive breastfeeding rates of the obese mothers' group and the normal BMI groups at the 7th day, 14th day and 6th week postpartum. In the situation of early breastfeeding initiation, the exclusive breastfeeding rates of the obese mothers at the 2nd, 7th, 14th day and 6th week postpartum were 96.3, 77.0, 71.2 and 58.4%, respectively. The exclusive breastfeeding rates of the normal BMI mothers who had early breastfeeding initiation were 96.2, 81.3, 77.4 and 67.2% at the 2nd, 7th, 14th day and 6th week postpartum, respectively. No significant differences were seen between the two groups in the exclusive breastfeeding rates at the 2nd, 7th and 14th day postpartum. Conclusion: The obesity had negative effect on exclusive breastfeeding rates during six weeks postpartum after mothers' discharge. But the exclusive breastfeeding rates of both the obese and normal BMI mothers were not significantly different during two weeks postpartum in early breastfeeding initiation situation. The obese mothers could be advised about early breastfeeding initiation.

The Number of Infant Feeding Positions and the 6-Month Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate infant feeding positions will help with latching. Good latching will help decrease cracked nipple and complication leading to early breastfeeding cessation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of the number of infant feeding positions on exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months postpartum period. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The subjects were primiparous women who delivered without complications and intended to breastfeed their newborns at least six months at the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sririndhorn Medical Center in Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand, between May 2012 and April 2013. On the first day postpartum, the mothers had received instructions on four infant feeding positions. These included the cradle, cross cradle, football carry, and side-lying positions, and all were practiced. The mothers were assessed on their use of the numbers of infant feeding positions at the second day postpartum prior to their discharge. Telephone follow-ups at the second, fourth, and sixth month postpartum periods were collected and used for exclusive breastfeeding data collection following discharge. Demographic data and exclusive breastfeeding rates were analyzed by Chi-square test, one-way ANOVA test, and relative risk with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Five hundred forty five primiparous women were enrolled in the present study. The data showed that the 6-month exclusive breastfeeding rates of the studied group who could breastfeed by one, two, three, and four positions, had statistically signifcant differences (p-value < 0.05). The relative risks for exclusive breastfeeding rates between the mothers who used two infant breastfeeding positions or more and the mothers who used only one position were 1.68 (95% CI 1.45-1.95) at the 2-month, 1.69 (95% CI 1.38-2.09) at the 4-month, and 1.51 (95% CI 1.18-1.94) at the 6-month postpartum periods. CONCLUSION: The number of infant breastfeeding positions had an association with the exclusive breastfeeding rates during the six months postpartum period.

Teenage pregnancy and exclusive breastfeeding rates.

BACKGROUND: Teenage pregnancy is an important health issue globally and in Thailand Younger age mothers decide on the breastfeeding practices ofthe first 6-month. OBJECTIVE: To find the rates of 6-month exclusive breastfeeding practices of teenage mothers and compare them with the rates of 6-month exclusive breastfeeding practices in mothers who are 20 years of age or more. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Three thousand five hundred sixty three normal, postpartum women, who delivered without complications at the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center in the Nakhon Nayok Province between 2010 and2013 were included in this study. At the second daypostpartum, the data of latch scores and the data of the practice of exclusive breastfeeding were collected Telephone follow-ups on the seventh, fourteenth, and forty-fifth postpartum days and at the second, fourth, and sixth month postpartum month were collected and used for exclusive breastfeeding data following discharge. Demographic data included the maternal age, parity, gestational age, marital status, occupation, religion, route ofdelivery, estimated blood loss, body mass index, nipple length, and the childs birth weight. The collected data was analyzed by the t-test, Chi-square, and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The percentage of teenage pregnancies was at 14.8% (527 cases). On postpartum day 2, the percentage of latch scores of 8 or less was 66.4%. At the seventh, fourteenth, and forty-fifth day and at the second, fourth, and sixth months postpartum, the exclusive breastfeeding rates were 88.5, 78.5, 57.6, 43.1, 32.9, and27.0%, respectively. Comparison of the 6-month exclusive breastfeeding rates between teenage mothers and mothers 20 years ofage or older were not statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The 6-month exclusive breastfeeding rate of teenage mothers was at 27.0% and had no significant differences from the rates of mothers 20 years of age or more.