Gynecology & Obstetrics
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0932
ISSN: 2161-0932
Zahrah Ali and Lisa Amir
University of Melbourne, Australia
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Gynecol Obstet
Background: The World Health Organization recommends that infants should not be given formula unless there is a medical indication. In-hospital formula supplementation has been associated with shorter breastfeeding duration. Despite this, in-hospital formula supplementation remains widespread. There are limited studies that look at the factors and reasoning behind in-hospital formula supplementation in breastfed infants. Aim: To perform a clinical audit to find out what factors and reasons were associated with formula use in healthy term babies in an Australian Baby Friendly Hospital. Methods: This clinical audit was based was at the Royal Women�??s Hospital in Melbourne. The medical records of 545 healthy singleton infant and mother pairs were retrospectively audited. Data was analyzed in Stata using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Of the 511 women who initiated breastfeeding, 123 (24%) reported formula supplementation in hospital. Factors associated with formula supplementation were maternal BMI �?�25 (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR] =1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20, 3.01), smoking at booking (OR=2.68; CI 1.22, 5.87), induced labor (OR=2.21, CI 1.33, 3.68), caesarean birth (OR=3.22; CI 1.48, 7.01), any infant resuscitation (OR=2.08; CI 1.13, 3.68) and time of first breastfeed later than 1 hour (OR=1.67; CI 1.05, 2.66). Infants who received formula were more likely than infants fully breast milk fed to have had their first breastfeed delayed: A mean difference 26 minutes (t test; p=0.009). The highest proportion of supplementation occurred in the 24 to 48 hour period after birth. The main documented reason for formula supplementation was maternal request. Conclusion: These findings show that there are hospital practices that are predictors of formula supplementation that could be targets for intervention as a way of supportive breastfeeding in the hospital setting.
E-mail: zahrah.ali@thewomens.org.au