Initiation of relactation: an Army Hospital based study of 381 cases
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20161054Keywords:
Breast feeding, RelactationAbstract
Background: Exclusive breast feeding continues to deteriorate in our country thereby increasing these infants to devastating illnesses inherent to top feeding. Relactation is an effective intervention to promote breast feeding and can successfully be established in most mothers with motivation and support.
Methods: A prospective hospital based study was conducted over a three year period in mothers with their less than 6 month old infants, admitted for various illnesses associated with lactational failure. Relactation supported by skilled hospital staff was initiated in all infants, as and when their condition permitted. No lactagogoues were used.
Results: There were 381 mother and 387 infants (4 mothers had twins & one had triplets). 239 (62.7%) were primipara, 272 (71.2%) had delivered in the hospital and 246 (64.6%) had given prelacteal feeds. Commonest cause of lactational failure was insignificant milk (53.1%). 88% of the infants were bottlefed and majority was on animal milk. Relactation was attempted in all cases and was successful in 327 (85.8%) but failed in 54 (14.2%) cases. Establishing of lactation ranged from 5 to 28 days. Incidence of failure increased with lactational gap & age of infant.
Conclusions: Relactation is possible in almost all women and is an effective intervention to promote exclusive breast feeding.
References
WHO. Relactation: Review of Experience and Recommendations for Practice. WHO document WHO/CHS/CAH/98.14. Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development WHO, Geneva. 1998.
Agarwal A, Arora S, Patwari AK. Breast-feeding among urban women of low socio-economic status: Factors influencing introduction of supplemental feeds before four months of age. Indian Pediatr. 1998;35:269-73.
Kapil U, Varma D, Narula S. Breast-feeding practices in Schedule Caste communities in Haryana State. Indian Pediatr. 1994;31:1227-32.
Kesaree N. Drip and drop method. Indian Pediatr. 1993;30:277-8.
Mathur GP, Chitranshi S, Mathur S, Singh SB, Bhalla M. Lactation failure. Indian Pediatr. 1992;29:1541-4.
Victoria CG, Smith PG, Vaughan JP, Nobre LC, Lombardi C, Teixeira AMB. Evidence for protection by breast feeding against deaths by infectious diseases in Brazil. Lancet iii: 1987;319-22.
Lakhkart BB, Shenoy VD, Vaskaranand N. Relactation - Manipal experience. Indian Pediatr. 1999;36:700-3.
De NC, Pandit B, Mishra SK, Pappu K, Chaudhari SN. Initiating the Process of Relactation: An Institute based Study. Indian Pediatr. 2002;39:173-8.
Banapurmath S, BanapurmathCR, Kesaree N. Initiation of lactation & Establishing Relactation in Outpatients. Indian Pediatr. 2003;40:343-7.
Auerbach KG, Avery JL. Relactation: A study of 366 cases. Pediatrics. 1980;65(2):236-42.
Auerbach KG, Avery JL. Induced lactation: A study of Adoptive Nursing by 240 women. Am J Dis Child. 1981;135.
Alves JGB, Figueira F, Nakul LC. Hospital induced malnutrition in infants: Prevention by relactation. Indian Pediatr. 1999;36:484-7.
Patwari SAK, Satyanarayana L. Relactation: an effective intervention to promote exclusive breastfeeding. J Trop Pediatr. 1997;43(4):213-6.
Marieskind H. Abnormal Lactation. L Trop Paediatr. 1973;19(2):123-8.
Emery ME. Galactogogues: Drugs to induce lactation. J Hum Lact. 1996;12(1):55-7.
Da Silva OP, Knoppert DC, Angelini MM. Effect of domperidone on milk production in mothers of premature newborns: A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. CMAJ. 2001;164:17-21.
