Correlation between Infant Feeding and Maternal Labor

Abstract

Objective: to determine if there is relationship between infant feeding and types of maternal labor.

Patients and Methods: Cross section study. Participants were 314 mother-infant dyads at a BABYLON city.Data were collected by face-to-face interview with mothers in pediatric department of ALmahaweel general hospital and private clinics, period between 1st of January of 2020 to 1st of December of 2020. Infants included in our study above 10 days and below one year of age to show if there are any relationship between infant feeding and maternal labor in addition to other factors.

Result: The results of the 314 mothers were 147(47%) deliver by normal vaginal delivery and 167(53%) by caesarian section and according to the feeding type in the first year of life revealed: 75 (23.9%) had BF while 119 (37.9%) and 120 (38.2%) had formula and mixed feeding respectively. Most of infant delivered by caesarian section was fed by formula and mixed feeding which is statically highly significant (p.value < 0.0001). Majority of mothers were below 25 years old (156 mothers) and less than one fourth of those mothers were practicing BF and infant feeding statistically no significant difference regarding gender, mother's age and education.

Conclusion: Type of labors has a respectable effect on type of children feeding below one of age. There is a uniformly elevating tendency of artificial feeding with the elevation of cesarean deliveries. Feeding practices have an important role on immunity and children health.