Breast feeding practices in a teaching hospital of Calcutta before and after the adoption of BFHI (Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative).

A comparative study has been made on two groups of 102 mothers each who delivered children in the postnatal ward of obstetrics and gynaecology department of Calcutta National Medical College before and after the introduction of BFHI (Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative). The study revealed that only 14.3% of the babies who were delivered normally were given their first breast feed in time, the ideal time of half an hour, while not a single baby delivered by caesarean section were given their breast feed within the stipulated time period of 4-6 hours. However, there has been a significant overall reduction in the time gap between the birth and the first breast feed in all types of delivery. BFHI has also made significant reduction of prelacteal feeds and in-between feeds in the newborns especially those delivered normally. The fact that babies of first order and those delivered by caesarean section are lagging behind as far as exclusive breast feeding is concerned has been highlighted in the study.