Breastfeeding within the first hour: associations with exclusive breastfeeding duration and complementary feeding

Abstract

Objectives:  to analyze the relationship between breastfeeding within the first hour of life and the duration of exclusive and continued breastfeeding, as well as its impact on complementary feeding.

Methods:  a longitudinal study of mother-child pairs recruited from two public hospitals (2011-2016), with follow-up at six months and between three and five years. Comparisons of exclusive breastfeeding, continued breastfeeding, and complementary feeding were performed using the log-rank test, Kaplan-Meier curves, and Mann-Whitney test.

Results:  a total of 352 infants were followed, of whom 198 (56.25%) were breastfed within the first hour. Breastfeeding within the first hour was associated with exclusive breastfeeding at two months (p=0.024) but not with continued breastfeeding at one year (p=0.183). The probability of offering salt, sugar, and honey during complementary feeding was lower among children who were breastfeeding within the first hour (p=0.035). However, no significant difference was found in the introduction of ultra-processed (p=0.263), processed (p=0.162), and in natura (p=0.900) foods.

Conclusion:  breastfeeding within the first hour was associated with exclusive breastfeeding at two months and lower probability of offering salt, sugar, and honey during complementary feeding.

Key words
Breastfeeding; Child nutrition; Infant nutritional physiological phenomena; Human milk; Newborn