BREASTFEEDING OF NEWBORNS BORN IN THE BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITAL IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE

Abstract

Summary. Objective. To analyze the peculiarities of breastfeeding cessation in infants born in a baby-friendly hospital. Methods. A mixed (retrospective + prospective) study was performed to examine 642 healthy and full-term infants ≥37 weeks who were born to healthy women in 2019 LSMU KK in the Perinatal Center Level III with BFH name and exclusively breastfed from birth. 642 mothers who gave birth were interviewed about breastfeeding characteristics by telephone. Data were analyzed using “The IBM SPSS Statistics 23“ statistical analysis package. Results. Up to 6 months were breastfed almost 2/3 and by the year 59.4% of all newborns. The most common causes for breastfeeding cessation were personal (26.2%) and infant rejecting breast (25.2%). When analyzing breastfeeding termination for up to 3months and 3–5 months it was found that the most common reason was insufficient lactation / hungry infant (46.1%, 49.3%). Mothers who breastfed for up to 3 months were more likely to use social networks as a source than mothers who breastfed for longer period of time. Mothers who were breastfeeding for 3–5 months used literature (14.1%) more often than those who breastfed until 12 month (p<0.05). The most common source among women who breastfed 6-11 months (44.6%) and 12 months or more (42.2%) is personal experience. Conclusions. Three-quarters of newborns born in BFH were breastfed for up to 6 months and more than half ≥12 months.