Untersuchung in Berliner Geburtskliniken und Geburtshäusern über den Stillbeginn und mögliche Einflussfaktoren

Abstract

The aim of this study was to collect information on and to evaluate the impact of the timing of first suckling and breast-feeding initiation in Berlin and to assess the practicability and acceptance of using a short questionnaire to collect breast-feeding data in hospitals and birth centres. A three-month observational study was conducted in 19 maternity units and 4 birth centres, using a short questionnaire to collect quantitative data on the timing of first suckling and breast-feeding from mother-child pairs on the day of discharge. The data indicate a breast-feeding rate of 96.1% at discharge. Infants born in birth centres were more frequently put to their mother's breast within the first hour after birth (p<0.05), and were more frequently mainly (p<0.05) or exclusively (p<0.01) breast-fed at discharge than infants born in hospitals. Hospitals' breast-feeding policies (i.e., following the 'ten steps to successful breast-feeding') were not associated with a higher prevalence of early first suckling and any breast-feeding at discharge, but rather with exclusivity of breastfeeding (p<0.001). Breast-feeding initiation rates are satisfactorily high in Berlin. Rates of early first suckling and (exclusive) initial breast-feeding are highest in birth centres. No consistent association was found between hospitals' breast-feeding policy and initial breast-feeding variables. The questionnaire was well accepted and is deemed suitable for monitoring purposes.