Impact of Essential Newborn Care Guidelines in Establishment of Effective Breastfeeding among Primi Postnatal Mothers

Context: Skill training on breast feeding technique based on Newborn care guidelines establishes effective breast feeding.

Objectives: This study examined the effectiveness of Breastfeeding by using Essential Newborn care guidelines.

Methods & Material: Pretest, post-test, Quasi experimental design was adopted for this study. Fifty primi mothers who delivered at PSG Hospitals, Coimbatore were enrolled by convenient sampling technique (n=25 intervention group, n=25 routine group). Breastfeeding latch score, UNICEF Breastfeed observation form, Mother-baby assessment method&Infant breastfeeding assessment tool was used to collect the data. The intervention group was demonstrated the skill on Breastfeeding Techniques by using Essential Newborn Care Guidelines. The routine group was observed with regular Breastfeeding Techniques.

Results/Findings: Pre and post test intervention observations related to positions, signaling, attachment, milk transfer, ending of the breastfeeding were observed. Following the above intervention, a significant number of mothers (84%) were keeping the baby close to them, (88%) of baby's neck was found to be straight while breastfeeding. In the intervention group a significant number of babies had several low deep sucks followed by swallowing and pauses in the post-intervention period. The proportion of excellent breastfeeding was significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group (22.5/25, (90%) Vs 14/25, (30%). Effectiveness of breastfeeding was observed in terms of frequency of breastfeeding as 8-12 times/day in 75% of mothers-babies in the intervention group compared to 6-7 times/day in 20% babies in routine group. Urine output (8 fully wet diapers/day) for babies in intervention group as 85% compared to routine group (30%). There was significant difference between post test Latch score between the groups (t=17.2, p < 0.05) and total scores of effective breastfeeding (t=14.7 (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that imparting skills on breastfeeding techniques by Essential newborn care guidelines significantly improved appropriate breastfeeding practices in the intervention group and it has an impact on establishing effective breastfeeding.