Breastfeeding Outcomes following cesarean and vaginal birth: A Cohort study in Tehran, Iran

Background and Objective: Breastfeeding is associated with lifelong benefits for mother and baby. We aimed to compare the outcome of breastfeeding practice between mothers undergoing cesarean and those with vaginal delivery.Methods: The Present Cohort study was conducted on ۱۸۰ women with term deliveries including ۹۰ women undergoing cesarean delivery (CD) and ۹۰ subjects who had experienced vaginal delivery (VD). We obtained data through interviews, clinical records and questionnaires during encounters with women at the immediate postpartum who were gradually followed up to fifteen months post-partum. Results: According to the independent T-test, the average duration of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) were significantly longer in mothers who experienced VD compared to CD (P=۰.۰۰ and P=۰.۰۰, respectively). There was a significant delayed further between the time period of delivery and the first mother-infant interaction, first lactation and emotional connection in the mothers who experienced CD compared to VD, (P=۰.۰۰ and P=۰.۰۰ respectively). There was a significant difficulty adopting correct nursing position after CD due to post-surgery physical complications and muscular pain. Also, CD significantly interfered with initiation of breastfeeding which resulted in accelerating the use of formula. Drug administration may lead to an unpleasant taste in the breast milk leading to the refusal of the breastfeeding.Conclusion: Cesarean induces adverse outcome on breastfeeding and the mothers will need extra support to maintain lactation. Families and clinicians should be educated and emphasize the benefits of breastfeeding to mothers, particularly among women who have had CD. Attempts should be made to encourage mothers for VD.