[The influence of breastfeeding technique on the frequencies of exclusive breastfeeding and nipple trauma in the first month of lactation].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the influence of breastfeeding technique on the frequencies of exclusive breastfeeding and nipple trauma in the first month of lactation. METHODS We searched for unfavorable parameters of breastfeeding (five related to mother/baby positioning and three related to baby's latch on) in 211 mother-baby pairs in the maternity ward and at day 30, at home. We compared the frequencies of these parameters between mothers practicing or not exclusive breastfeeding at days 7 and 30, and between mothers with or without nipple trauma at the hospital. RESULTS The number of unfavorable parameters in the maternity ward was similar for mother-baby pairs practicing or not exclusive breastfeeding at day 7 and 30. However, at day 30, it was, on average, lower among those under exclusive breastfeeding, regarding positioning (1.7+/-1.2 vs 2.2+/-1.1; p = 0.009) as well as latch on (1.0+/-0.6 vs 1.4+/-0.6; p < 0.001). The number of unfavorable parameters related to latch on in the maternity ward was similar for women with or without nipple trauma, but women without trauma presented a higher number of unfavorable parameters related to positioning. (2.0+/-1.4 vs 1.4+/-1.2; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS The frequencies of exclusive breastfeeding in the first month and of nipple trauma were not influenced by the breastfeeding technique in the maternity ward, but there was an association between a better technique at day 30 and the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. New studies may help to elucidate whether an improvement in breastfeeding practices over time helps the maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding or whether the introduction of bottle-feeding determines a negative effect on breastfeeding.