DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2014.v02i10.012

Pages: 714-718

Breast feeding is the first step in life which ensures that neonates get a healthy & nutritious start in life. Efforts made in past indicate that improved health care practices, early contact between mother and baby, early introduction to breast milk, demand feeding and rooming in practices enhance initiation of lactation and it’s maintenance. In the present study, we aimed to study knowledge, attitude and the feeding practices in a tertiary care centre. The descriptive study was conducted in Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur. 165 postnatal women were included in study. Women were interviewed personally with the help of a fixed questionnaire regarding their knowledge and feeding practices. 37% of women started breast feeding their infants within 2 hours and 100% women were feeding within 24 hours of birth. Delay in initiation was seen in women having a caesarean section.40% received mother’s milk as their first feed. 81.2% were aware of it’s nutritive value. In conclusion, efforts need to be made to help mother to initiate feeding early specially in caesarean section. Women need to be made aware of benefits of breast feeding and proper techniques. Health care providers and nursing staff should be encouraged to actively participate in proper counseling and training of mothers.