Neonatal feeding patterns and reports of insufficient milk among low‐income urban Mexican mothers

Neonatal feeding patterns of 73 low‐income Mexican women who delivered vaginally and without complications a healthy term infant in 2 public maternity hospitals were studied in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Women were interviewed at hospital discharge and in their homes 8 and 16 days post‐partum (PP). Even though 71% reported full breastfeeding as the ideal feeding mode, only 47% were planning to follow this method at hospital discharge, by 16 days PP only 24% were doing so. Water and herbal tea feeding via bottle was a universal practice. At hospital discharge 44% reported concern regarding their milk supply. By 8 days PP and 16 days PP report of insufficient milk was 43% and 46%, respectively. Use of supplementary bottles was associated (p < 0.05) with report of insufficient milk, low support by the husband for breastfeeding, lack of breastfeeding advice from friends or relatives, use of formula with a previous child, and not attending prenatal visits. Infants were routinely supplemented in both hospitals regardless of whether the mother intended to breastfeed or not. Further, 59% of women were given a free can of powdered infant formula at hospital discharge, 88% were recommended by hospital staff to give formula and only 18% reported receiving breastfeeding support from health workers. The adverse hospital environment for breastfeeding might explain part of the high incidence of formula use and reports of insufficient milk so soon after delivery.

Key words:

• urban
• Mexico
• neonatal
• breastfeeding
• insufficient milk
• health care system