In normal delivery, breast feeding should be started within?

Tripura CHO - 2021

Obstetrics and Midwifery Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: Tripura CHO - 2021

Explanation

Global health bodies like the WHO and UNICEF strongly recommend initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, a period often called the 'golden hour'.
Early suckling provides the newborn with colostrum, the first milk, which is rich in antibodies (especially IgA) and provides crucial passive immunity.
For the mother, the infant's suckling stimulates the release of oxytocin, which promotes uterine contractions, aids in placental expulsion, and reduces the risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).
Early skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding are vital for regulating the baby's temperature and fostering a strong emotional bond between mother and infant.

Option A: Delaying breastfeeding to 3 hours misses the critical 'golden hour' and its immediate benefits, such as early colostrum intake and stimulation of uterine contractions to prevent hemorrhage.
Option C: Waiting 4 hours is a significant delay that deprives the newborn of the immediate immunological and nutritional benefits of colostrum and reduces the mother's benefit of oxytocin release for uterine contraction.
Option D: A 6-hour delay is well beyond the recommended guideline and can interfere with the establishment of breastfeeding, bonding, and the natural physiological processes that protect both mother and baby immediately postpartum.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Postnatal care and breastfeeding initiation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses are instrumental in facilitating early breastfeeding by educating mothers, ensuring privacy, and providing hands-on support for proper latching and positioning immediately after birth.
Early initiation of breastfeeding is a high-impact, low-cost intervention that is a key component of programs like the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative to reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity.
What if? If the newborn requires immediate resuscitation or has a condition preventing oral feeding, the mother should be encouraged to begin hand-expressing colostrum as soon as possible to provide to the baby and to stimulate milk production.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is the recommended timeframe for starting breastfeeding after a 'normal delivery'.
Recall standard postnatal care guidelines from major health organizations like WHO and national health programs.
The term 'golden hour' is a key concept in modern obstetrics and refers to the first hour after birth. Associate this concept with the initiation of breastfeeding.
Evaluate the options based on this knowledge. The '1 hour' option directly corresponds to the 'golden hour' recommendation.
Eliminate the other options (3, 4, and 6 hours) as they represent delays that miss the most critical window for the associated benefits.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 153-155

E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 49-68