Breast crawl at birth, effect on breastfeeding rate and infant growth in infants delivered at an urban tertiary care public hospital: A randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Journal of neonatal nursing : JNN 2019-10, Vol.25 (5), p.236-239
• Main Authors: Mulupuru, Suseela, Siddu, Anita, Murki, Srinivas, Saikiran, D, Reddy, Anupama
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breast crawl; Breast feeding; Neonate
• ISSN: 1355-1841; 1878-089X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnn.2019.04.008

Establishing successful breastfeeding within the first hour of infant’s life has been shown to have an inverse relationship with maternal breastfeeding difficulties and decreased neonatal mortality. We compared the effect of immediate breast crawl with standard care on maternal perception of breastfeeding, mother infant bonding and maternal satisfaction at hospital discharge, breastfeeding rates, infant weights at 6 weeks and at 6 months. Eligible pregnant women after birth were randomized. In the breast crawl group, immediate skin to skin contact was practiced till 1 hour or till the infant had the first breast feeding. In the control group no skin to skin contact was practiced. 200 mother infant dyads were enrolled in the study. Breast crawl was successful in 90% of the infants. No difference in breastfeeding rates was observed between the two groups at 6 weeks or at 6months age [94.8% (n= 97) vs. 95.7% (n=95), OR 0.99, 95% CI: 0.93-1.05 and 92.7% (n= 97) vs. 94.6% (n=93) OR 0.98 95% CI: 0.92-1.05]. The breastfeeding assessment score and maternal perception of breastfeeding and infant activity were significantly better in the crawl group (OR 10.2, 95% CI :5.12 -20). No difference in infant bonding scores was observed between the two groups. The mean weight at discharge was similar between the two groups. The mean infant weight at 6 months of age were significantly better in the crawl group [6767 ±843 grams vs. 6475 ±843 grams, p=0.018)]. Breast crawl at birth improves the breastfeeding and maternal perception of breastfeeding at hospital discharge and the infant weights at 6 months of age. Education and motivation of the mothers and labor room team, good breastfeeding rates in the control group are some of the unique features of this study. Consistent presence of the research assistant.