Initiation of Complementary Feeding and Duration of Total Breastfeeding: Unlimited Access to Lactation Consultants Versus Routine Care at the Well-Baby Clinics

摘要

>Introduction: Breastfeeding has several advantages for both mother and child. Lactation consultants may promote prolonged breastfeeding, but little is known about their impact on the initiation of complementary feeding.>Subjects and Methods: Dietary intake during the initial complementary feeding period from 5 to 6 months was collected on mother–infant pairs who had unlimited access to lactation consultants along with those mother–infant pairs who received routine care at the well-baby clinics. The total duration of breastfeeding in each study population was also recorded, and total breastfeeding durations of infants receiving complementary foods from 4 months and those exclusively breastfed for 6 months in each of the two study populations were compared.>Results: Higher proportion of infants of mothers with unlimited access to lactation consultants were fed vegetable and vegetable purées (p=0.05) and more than one food type (p=0.05) at 5 months. Furthermore, a lower percentage of them had three meals per day at 6 months (p=0.001) compared with those receiving routine care at the well-baby clinics. Infants exclusively breastfed for 6 months all had similar duration of total breastfeeding.>Conclusions: Mother–infant pairs with unlimited access to lactation consultant had slower introduction of complementary foods at the initial complementary feeding period, according to number of infant's meals at 6 months of age. Furthermore, those exclusively breastfed for 6 months had more prolonged breastfeeding compared with mothers who began complementary feeding at 4 months regardless of exposure to lactation consultants.