PROMOTION OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING: TEACHING GOOD POSITIONING AND SUPPORT FROM FATHERS AND FAMILIES

Breastfeeding has many advantages for both mothers and infants. Several factors have negative effect on the duration of breastfeeding, one of them being mode of delivery. Caesarean sectioned mothers need more help and support, especially in positioning of infant on their breast. In addition, the role of partner and family during initial weeks after birth to support and encouragement of mothers, is very important. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of home visit after caesarean delivery on exclusive breastfeeding. The study was a randomized controlled trial with 100 mothers who admitted in an educational hospital of Iran University Medical Sciences and gave birth through cesarean delivery. Patients were selected continually and allocated randomly in two groups of experimental and control. During the trial some of samples excluded from research and finally 67 pair of mother and infant remained. Data collection tools included a questionnaire which was completed via interview with mothers about infant’s feeding. Four home visits were performed at 3rd, 10th, 30th, and 60 th day after discharge from hospital in the experimental group. In these days the type of infant’s feeding in control group was recorded after telephone interview with mothers. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. According to the results, after teaching good positioning, there was significant increasing in ratio of mothers who breastfed their baby exclusively during six month after birth (P=0. 02). The number of mothers who perceived milk insufficiency, decreased significantly and there was significant differences in exclusive breastfeeding during six month postpartum in two groups (P=0. 000). During the initial weeks postpartum, if cesarean sectioned mothers were taught good positioning during feeding baby, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding increases and mother’s perception of milk insufficiency decreases. Successful nutrition with mother’s milk during first week after birth is associated with support and encouragement of midwife, partner and family at home.