A comparative study of bilateral and unilateral early sucking within 2 hours of delivery on lactation

Abstract

Objective: This study explored and analyzed the effects of bilateral and unilateral early sucking within 2 h after delivery on lactation.

Methods: From August 2019 to August 2020, 392 primiparas with full-term, singleton, natural delivery, and normal breast conditions were submitted to the Obstetrics Department of our hospital and were enrolled as the research subjects. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 196 in each group. Both groups implemented early sucking with the assistance of a midwife within 2 h after delivery. The experimental group conducted bilateral breast sucking and the control group received unilateral sucking. The onset time of colostrum, the lactation volume, and the prolactin levels at 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after delivery, including neonatal urination and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups.

Results: The onset time of colostrum in the experimental group was much earlier than that in the control group with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The postpartum filling time of the experimental group was shorter than that of the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). There was a statistically insignificant difference in the distribution of lactation yield between the two groups at 6 h of postpartum (P>0.05). The lactation yield distribution in the experimental group at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h was critically superior to that in control group, with statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The degree of prolactin in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in urination frequency and the incidence of complications between the two groups of neonates at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h (P>0.05).

Conclusion: The effect of bilateral early lactation within 2 h after delivery is superior to that of unilateral early lactation, which is worthy of clinical application.

Keywords: Bilateral early sucking; lactation volume; unilateral early sucking.

Figure 1

Comparison of prolactin levels at different times after delivery between the two groups. Note: Compare with 6 h after delivery, *P<0.05; Compare with control group, #P<0.05.