DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i03.022

Pages: 964-969

Breast milk is the milk produced by the breasts (or mammary glands) of a human female to feed a child. Milk is the primary source of nutrition for newborns before they are able to eat and digest other foods; older infants and toddlers may continue to be breastfed, in combination with other foods from six months of age when solid foods should be introduced. The aim of this study is to identify the socio-demographic profile of the mothers and their relation with the time of initiation of breastfeeding. It was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Post-natal ward in Padma General Hospital Ltd. from April 2012- September 2013. A total of 190 newborn babies of 0-7 day’s age old were selected purposively. Data were collected from mothers of the selected babies by structured questionnaire. Among the total 190 mothers 75 (39.47%) started breastfeeding in the first hour of delivery, 85(44.73 %) started within 12 hours, 26 (13.68 %) within 24 hours and 4(2.10 %) within 48 hours. Prelacteal feeding was given to 59 (31.05 %) babies and the form of prelacteal feeding were misry water (33.9 %), artificial milk (30.50 %), honey (18.64%), plain water (13.055 %) and cow’s milk (1.05%). Colostrum was given to 177 (93.15%) babies respectively. Medical problem was present in 13.05 % of mothers. Significantly less number of mother with medical problem gave colostrum to their babies (p<0.05). Significantly higher number of mothers with vaginal delivery gave breast feeding within one hour of delivery than instrumental or C/S deliveries (p < 0.05). Labour was prolonged in 30 % of delivery. Less number of mothers had prolonged labour started breastfeeding within 1st hour and gave colostrum (p< 0.05). The present study had. 3.7 % newborn with birth weight < 2kg, 78% with 2-3 kg and 17 % with>3 kg. Significantly more number of low birth weight babies were given breastfeeding within 1 hour, colostrum less number of babies were given prelacteal feeding than other babies (p<0.05). In our st