Determinants of Formula Milk Supplementation at a Baby Friendly University Hospital During Hospital Stay

Introduction: While the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommend exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life, the AAP recommends continuity of breastfeeding beyond the age of 1 and WHO beyond the age of 2 years. We aimed to determine the rate, causes and contributing risk factors of early formula milk supplementation (FMS) both in hospital setting during early postpartum and post-discharge follow-up in a baby friendly hospital. Materials and Methods: The study was done retrospectively by collecting the recorded data of mothers and their healthy infants that were born in a private baby-friendly hospital from January 2020 to January 2021. Results: FMS rate during hospital stay was 13.78% (n=128). C/S delivery is significantly higher in formula milk supplemented group. While breast milk insufficiency was determined as the most common cause for FMS, as a result of logistic regression analysis, pregnancy with assisted reproductive technique, multiple pregnancy, birth weight less than 2500 g, gestational age less than 37 weeks, maternal/obstetrical diseases, gestational diabetes mellitus and smoking mother were determined as potent factors on FMS. Conclusion: The negative effects of possible risk factors can be significantly reduced if adequate support is given to the mother by health professionals after birth, the hospital’s written breastfeeding policy is followed, FMS is not given other than medical indications and breastfeeding counseling continues after discharge.