Evaluation of Utility of Various Interventions Related to Relactation and Assessment of Outcomes of Relactation Practice in Mothers With Infants up to 6 Months of Age
Jasmeen Kaur, Manmeet Kaur Sodhi, Sanjeev Mahajan, Karnail Singh, Ashwani Kumar, Avneet Kaur, Amandeep Goyal, Rachna Kapoor
Abstract
Background: Relactation is defined as the process of resuming breastfeeding in mothers who have stopped feeding because of factors such as illness in the mother or infant, top feeds, and insufficient milk production. Relactation requires motivation and support from family members and appropriate guidance from medical personnel.
Aim: This study was conducted to determine the factors associated with premature termination of exclusive breastfeeding and to demonstrate the effect of different strategies to induce relactation in such mothers.
Materials and Methods: This prospective interventional study was conducted at the department of pediatrics, Bebe Nanki Mother and Child Care Centre, Government Medical College (Amritsar, Punjab, India). One hundred term infants aged up to 6 months and with a lactation gap of > 7 days were enrolled into the study. Mother–infant dyads were divided into 2 groups by random allocation. Group 1 was only counseled for relactation, while group 2 was provided metoclopramide (a dopamine antagonist) along with counseling to induce lactation. A statistical analysis was done and a P value < .05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The most common reason for not breastfeeding was insufficient secretion of breast milk (81%). The study results show that relactation was successful in 97% of mothers, of whom 60.8% showed complete relactation and 39.20% showed partial relactation. No significant differences were observed in success rates of relactation among the 2 groups.
Conclusion: Relactation is possible in almost every mother with proper counseling, motivation, and support of family and the health care personnel including doctors, with no significant need for medications.
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