Abstract:
BACKGROUND : Normative information on the breastfeeding of term newborns may guide clinicians in early identification of
breastfeeding difficulties and oro-pharyngeal dysphagia (OPD), and may support optimal breastfeeding practices. OBJECTIVE : To describe breastfeeding skills of term newborn infants in a South African hospital, a lower-middle-income setting,
and investigate associations between infants’ feeding and other factors.
Method: One breastfeeding session of each of the 71 healthy newborn full-term infants (mean chronological age=1.9 days; mean gestation=39.1 weeks) was evaluated using the Preterm Infant Breastfeeding Behavior Scale (PIBBS), suitable for use with term newborns. RESULTS : All participants were exclusively breastfed. Thirteen participants (18%) were HIV-exposed. There was no significant
difference in the findings of the PIBBS between HIV-exposed and unexposed participants. Most newborns had obvious rooting,
latched deeply onto the nipple and some of the areola, had repeated long sucking bursts (mean length=16.82 sucks/burst), and
swallowed repeatedly. Most participants were in either the drowsy or quiet-alert state, which are optimal behavioural states for
breastfeeding. One to two-hourly on-demand feeds was significantly associated with mothers who had normal births and did not
use galactogogues to promote lactation.
CONCLUSION : Results may be used for early identification of OPD in newborns. The findings may be useful to primary care clinicians.
