EFFECT OF ANTENATAL FOCUSSED GROUP BREASTFEEDING COUNSELLING VS ROUTINE COUNSELLING IN 3RD TRIMESTER PREGNANT FEMALES ON POSTPARTUM LATCH SCORE.

The aim of the study is to  compare the effect of ante-natal focussed group counselling and routine antenatal counselling on breast feeding, in 3rd trimester pregnant females. All the 3rd trimester pregnant females  aged between 20 to 40 years  who are interested for focused group counselling will be enrolled in the study. Pregnant females with antenatal scan showing congenital anomalies, Pregnant females with severe medical or surgical illness, unbooked cases, Females with multiple pregnancies, Mothers with who deliver babies before 37 completed weeks of gestation  and babies who developed  neonatal complications within 24 hours of birth  will be excluded from study at the time of assessment of LATCH SCORE.

Sampling will be convenient sampling method ,The average monthly delivery rate in our hospital is around 60 per month and about 10% babies require immediate NICU admission due to prematurity, hypoxia, twin delivery and respiratory distress, which are excluded from the study group , The intervention period for antenatal counselling will be the initial 3 months of the study. So the estimated study population for the study period would be total around 162 mothers. All the pregnant women’s in 3rd trimester in the OBGY department will be enrolled in the study and explained regarding the need and importance of the study. They will be provided with the patient information sheet both in English and Hindi. They will be provided with the patient consent form to ensure the consensual participation in the study.

The mothers will be allocated in, intervention and non-intervention group using block randomisation by group no. written over chit in a sealed envelope. The intervention group, will be provided a questionnaire to assess their knowledge & attitude towards the breast feeding followed by focussed counselling on breastfeeding in sessions conducted in the department • The Non-intervention group mothers will be provided with routine counselling on breastfeeding by the attending obstetrician. • The breast-feeding focussed group counselling session will be planned in OPD visit. • A single session will be given to each participant for 1 hour duration in peer groups by the principal investigator. • Counselling session will mainly focus on - • a) proper position of breastfeeding, b) proper latch, c) when to start breastfeeding after delivery, d) ideal duration of each breastfeeding session, e) ideal time interval 14 between two breastfeeding sessions, f) duration of feed on each breast, g) importance of fore milk, h) importance of hind milk, i) benefits of colostrum, j) benefits of breast milk to baby, k) benefits of breastfeeding to themselves, l) benefits of breastfeeding to family, m) benefits of breastfeeding to society. • Additional focus will be given regarding negative hurdles about breastfeeding mothers like myths and misconceptions, operative delivery, cultural taboos, the influence of older women, lack of confidence, maternal worries, period of breastfeeding post delivery etc. • Routine counselling on breast feeding will be provided by the attending obstetrician/ pediatrician during ANC visits. •

LATCH SCORE will be calculated with in 24 hour post partum by the principal investigator in the focused counselling group and routine counselling group.