[Skin-to-skin contact after birth as a factor determining breastfeeding duration]

Abstract

Using prospective cohort study design the influence of skin-to-skin contact after birth on breastfeeding was analyzed in a group of 1250 three years old Polish children. The implementation of this practice significantly increased the mean exclusive breastfeeding duration by 0.4 month and overall breastfeeding by 1.4 months. The effect of skin-to-skin contact duration after birth was also observed. The infants kept with the mothers at least 30 minutes were 1.2 month longer exclusively breastfed and 1.7 month later weaned than those who had the shorter contact. The skin-to-skin contact after birth significantly coexisted with the other hospital practices supportive for breastfeeding: early first feeding [(OR=9,73), 95%CI:6.87-13.80] exclusive breastfeeding in the maternity ward [(OR=4,30), 95%CI:3.15- 5.89], rooming-in [(OR=2,78), 95%CI:2.05-3.78] and elimination of bottle [(OR=3,70), 95%CI:2.69-5.09]. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that mother-infant contact afterbirth was a significant and independent factor for exclusive breastfeeding continuation.