Abstract
This study compared infant sucking and breastfeeding behaviour in infants of mothers who delivered by caesarean section (CS) and received pethidine for post‐caesarean section analgesia, with mothers who delivered vaginally (V), during the period of secretory activation (day 3) and again after the establishment of lactation (follow‐up). Infant sucking was measured with ultrasound images of the infant's intra‐oral cavity, breastfeeding behaviour was assessed by the LATCH‐R tool and the times to first breastfeed and breast fullness were recorded. CS infants displayed significantly more anterior tongue movement on day 3 than at follow‐up (p<0.001), whereas the V group showed a similar amount of movement between assessments. Compared to the V group, in the CS group LATCH‐R scores improved at follow‐up (CS; p=0.02, V: p=0.15), CS suck rates were faster, especially on day 3 (p<0.001), and times to first breastfeed (p=0.01) and breast fullness (p=0.03) were significantly later. These results suggest a small influence of CS birth and/or pethidine on breastfeeding during the critical period of secretory activation. Funding: Medela AG, Switzerland.
Published Version
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