Early versus delayed initiation of breastfeeding

BACKGROUND:
It has been suggested that the timing of a baby's first breastfeed may influence breastfeeding duration and emotional attachment.
OBJECTIVES:
The objective of this review was to assess the effects of breastfeeding soon after birth (within 30 minutes) compared to being breastfed later (between 4 to 8 hours after delivery) on the duration of breastfeeding and the mother/infant relationship.
SEARCH STRATEGY:
We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Randomised and quasi-randomised trials comparing early skin contact and breastfeeding with late skin contact and breastfeeding in women intending to breastfeed their healthy term infant.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:
Data were extracted by two reviewers.
MAIN RESULTS:
Three studies involving 209 women were included. Compared with late contact and breastfeeding, early contact and breastfeeding was associated with greater communication between mother and infants in a two minute observation period (odds ratio 0.14, 95% confidence interval 0.03 to 0.61). There was no difference detected for numbers of women breastfeeding after birth (odds ratio for 12 weeks after birth 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.34 to 1.54).
REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS:
No differences were found between early and delayed contact in regard to breastfeeding duration. Early contact was associated with greater communication between mothers and infants.