INFANT-FEEDING POLICIES IN MATERNITY WARDS AND THEIR EFFECT ON BREAST-FEEDING SUCCESS - AN ANALYTICAL OVERVIEW

Objectives. The purpose of this review is to examine the plausibility of a causal relationship between maternity ward practices and lactatio n success, Method. Studies were located with MEDLINE, from our persona l files, and by contacting researchers working in this field. Of the 6 5 studies originally reviewed, 18 met our inclusion criteria (i.e., ho spital-based intervention, experimental design with randomization proc edures, or quasi-experimental design with adequate documentation). Res ults. Meta-analysis indicated that commercial discharge packs had an a dverse effect on lactation performance. The impact of early mother-inf ant contact on lactation success was unclear. Rooming-in and breast-fe eding guidance in a rooming-in context had a beneficial impact on brea st-feeding among primiparae. Breast-feeding on demand was positively a ssociated with lactation success. In-hospital formula supplementation of 48 mL per day was not associated with poor breast-feeding performan ce. Conclusions. Hospital-based breast-feeding interventions can have a beneficial effect on lactation success, particularly among primiparo us women.