Influence of early skin-to-skin contact, nationality, type of birth and premature birth in breast feeding

Abstract

To know if there is any relationship between breast feeding and nationality, premature birth, type of birth and early skin-to-skin contact at Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet. Cohort study in a simple of 541 puerperal women at Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, from October to November 2011.The variables nationality, type of birth, early skin-to-skin contact, premature birth and beginning of breast feeding were collected before hospital discharge by means of a questionnaire.Two months after the birth, mothers were phoned to know the type of breastfeeding until that moment. 70,32% of women began breastfeeding within the first two hours after the birth and 55,58% were breastfeeding exclusively after two months.Type of birth, early skin-to-skin contact and premature birth have an influence on breastfeeding.The probability of breastfeeding is 3,65 times higher if there has been early skin-to-skin contact (RR 3,65; IC 95% 2,72-4,88; p=0,001). Beginning of breastfeeding within the first two hours and the Spanish nationality have a positive influence in breastfeeding in two months. Postpartum practices at hospitals must promote the early contact between the newborn and the mother, and the beginning of breastfeeding within the first two hours, especially in cesarean sections.