Delayed Onset of Lactation and Accompanying Perinatal Factors in Mothers Who Delivered at the End of A Normal Term Pregnancy

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to investigate the frequency of delayed onset of lactation and accompanying perinatal factors in mothers who gave birth after a normal gestational course without any health problems. Methods: The study sample consisted of infants and their mothers who had given birth at Şanlıurfa Şan Med Hospital and then applied to the Pediatrics Health and Diseases Polyclinic for health check-ups within 3-15 days postpartum between June 2017 and September 2017. The data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0. Results: Delayed lactation was reported by 30.6% of mothers, being more common among primiparous mothers and those who delivered by cesarean section (p<0.001 and p=0.044, respectively). The rate of delayed lactation was lower among those who had skin-to-skin contact than those who did not (p=0.010), and among those who started breastfeeding in the first hour than those who did not (p<0.001). The rate of delayed lactation was higher if water or food other than breast milk was given on the first day or in the following period (p<0.001). Conclusion: To reduce the risk of delayed lactation, there is a need for more personalized breastfeeding counseling and interventions for mothers who have given birth for the first time. Skin-to-skin contact should be ensured in all deliveries, and unnecessary cesarean deliveries and prelacteal feeding should be avoided. Keywords: Breastfeeding, cesarean section, delayed lactation