On promoting initiation of breastfeeding for primiparas by early continuous skin contact

Abstract

Objective To explore influences of early continuous skin contact for 1 h on success rate and duration of first breast feed, puerpera lactation initiation and exclusive breastfeeding rate when leaving hospital. Methods Quasi-experiment method was used. By convinience sampling, 71 spontaneously labored primiparas and their full term infants were divided, according to random number table, into intervention group (n=36) and control group (n=35). In the intervention group, the newborns were given mother-infant skin contact for 1 h, while in the control group, the skin contact lasted for about 20-30 min, until the perineum was sutured. Breastfeeding assessment tool (BAT) was used to evaluate success rate and duration of first breastfeeding, puerpera lactation initiation time and exclusive breastfeeding rate when leaving hospital. Results In the intervention group, rooting reflex time of the infants were (22.86±8.576) min, while in the control group (25.29±8.326) min, statistically meaningless (Z=-1.618, P=0.106). In the intervention group, duration of first sucking was (17.06±8.662) min, while in the control group (12.11±9.055) min (t=-2.350, P=0.022). In the intervention group, puerpera lactation initiation time was (1.36±0.833) d, while in the control group (2.66±1.999) min (Z=-3.354, P=0.001). In the intervention group, when the infants left hospital, 29 were fed by breast milk exclusively (80.6%), while in the control group 17 (48.6%) (χ2=7.958, P=0.005). Conclusions Early continuous skin contact for 1 h can effectively promote initiation of breastfeeding, and lay a solid foundation for primiparas to feed the infants by breast milk in the early stage. Key words: Breastfeeding; Initiation of breastfeeding; Skin contact; Primipara