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Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol 2021; 225(04): 353-360
DOI: 10.1055/a-1255-3525
Original Article

Assessment of Factors Affecting Breastfeeding Performance and Latch Score: A Prospective Cohort Study

Erdem Fadiloglu 
1   Division of Perinatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
,
Esra Karatas
1   Division of Perinatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
,
Ruya Tez
1   Division of Perinatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
,
Murat Cagan
1   Division of Perinatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
,
Canan Unal
1   Division of Perinatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
,
Makbule Nar
1   Division of Perinatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
,
Atakan Tanacan 
1   Division of Perinatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
,
Mehmet Sinan Beksac
1   Division of Perinatal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
› Author Affiliations Funding: This study has not been funded by any organization or third party.
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Abstract

Objective To determine the risk factors that may affect LATCH scores.

Materials and Methods We prospectively evaluated the LATCH scores and any relevant risk factors of patients who delivered at our institution during April and May 2020. All examinations were performed by the same physicians during the study period. LATCH scores were determined at initial breastfeeding session, and postnatal days 1 and 2.

Results We analyzed 338 patients in this prospective study. Patients with high-risk pregnancies were found to have lower LATCH scores at each measurement (p: 0.002, 0.001, and 0.09, respectively). Skin-to-skin contact immediately after delivery and breastfeeding longer than 20 min in the first session did not improve LATCH scores (p>0.05). Breastfeeding within 30 min after delivery significantly improved LATCH scores at each session (p<0.01 for all). Odds ratios of having a LATCH score lower than 8 was 10.9 (95% CI: 4.22−28.37) for the patients breastfed after more than 30 min, while this ratio was 2.17 (95% CI: 1.34−3.50) and 6.5 (95% CI: 3.46−12.58) for the patients having a high-risk pregnancy and cesarean section, respectively. Furthermore, we also determined a positive statistically significant association between parity and all LATCH scores according to regression analyses (p: 0.005, 0.028, and 0.035 for LATCH scores at initial breastfeeding, postnatal day 1 and 2, respectively)

Conclusion High-risk pregnancies, patients who delivered by cesarean section, and patients not attempting to breastfeed within 30 min tend to have lower LATCH scores.

Keywords

breast feeding - fetal lactate - maternity care


Publication History

Received: 10 July 2020

Accepted after revision: 22 August 2020

Article published online:
06 October 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York

 

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