Breastfeeding in the Immediate Puerperium and Influence of Parity

Abstract

Introduction: Breastfeeding is still low in countries. These events start from the immediate puerperium and end at the sixth postpartum month. There is no evidence of breastfeeding in the immediate puerperium according to parity.
Objective: To determine the adequate breastfeeding practices according to parity in the immediate postpartum period.
Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study in 422 puerperal women treated at the Cayetano Heredia National Hospital in Lima, Peru. They underwent assessment of breastfeeding proper practice in the immediate puerperium (<24 hours). They were classified according to parity in nulliparous, primiparous, segundiparous, and multiparous (≥3 births). Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were applied.
Results: the study found adequate breastfeeding practice in the immediate puerperium (p = 0.007) in 71.6% of the nulliparous, 74.6% of the primiparous, 85.9% of the second and 85.0% of the multiparous. 73.6% in those who speak Spanish had adequate practices, 90.5% in those who speak Spanish and Quechua (p = 0.002).
Conclusions: There are differences in the proper breastfeeding practices according to parity and language.