Caesarian-sections and early initiation of breast-feeding practices in tertiary care hospitals of Islamabad.

To assess the effect of caesarean section and factors influencing early initiation of breastfeeding by mothers. The cross-sectional study was conducted at Pakistan Institute Of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, and Polyclinic Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, from November 2016 to January 2017, and comprised women who had given birth through caesarean section. Data was collected using a standardised questionnaire which was modified accordingly. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. Of the 150 subjects 18-49 years, 95(63.3%) breastfed their babies but not within the initial hour of the birth, as 104(69.3%) were in the recovery room post-surgery. As such, 141(94%) infants were given formula feeds. Overall, 120(80%) babies met their mother between 1 and five hours. In 54(57%) babies, breastfeeding was started within 6- 12 hours after birth, and 149(98.7%) women had postoperative pain which delayed initiation of breastfeeding. Caesarean sections were found to be associated with reduced breastfeeding rates in the initial one hour post-surgery.