requency of exclusive breastfeeding and reasons for release of milk formula in rooming-in of a tertiary-level maternity hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Breast milk is an unrivaled source of nutrients in the first six months of life, and after this time it is recommended that it must be supplemented with other foods up to two years or longer. Recent publications show an increase in the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in binomials that have been assisted in services in which humanized care is practiced, such as rooming-in (RI) system. Objectives: To describe the prevalence of breastfeeding (BF) and the reasons for the prescription of milk formula (MF) in the RI from a tertiary-level public hospital institution. Patients and methods: A descriptive retrospective study was carried out at the Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicine, Universidade de Sao Paulo, a tertiary level of care institution, from June to December 2016. Data were obtained through a review of charts and the protocol established for data collection. The hospitalization in the RI and the justifications for the release of MF followed the respective institutional norms. Results: During the study period, 555 newborns were hospitalized. The frequency of exclusive breastfeeding was 70.8%; the MF was therefore prescribed in 29.2% of newborns. The main reason described for the indication of MF was hypoglycaemia, corresponding to 54.4% of the total of offered MF. Maternal diseases ranked second among the most frequent justifications, being cited in 19% of the cases. Conclusion: The main causes for MF prescription were hypoglycaemia and maternal diseases. They express the features of studied population, represented by children of mothers with serious diseases that potentially prevent breastfeeding or favor hypoglycemic clinical conditions. The rooming-in system and the systematic notification of the reasons for use of MF contributed to ensure that it occurred only when necessary, favoring maintenance of the BF.