Background: Breastmilk is the natural first food for babies which provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first few months of life. More than two thirds of the 2.4 million child deaths occurring each year in India are related to inappropriate infant feeding practices. Initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth in central Indian states is among the lowest. The situation in central Indian states especially Uttar Pradesh is worse than the rest of India which is usually attributed to prevalent socio-economic and cultural factors.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted among 144 mothers visiting a tertiary care hospital in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India over a period of nine months using a questionnaire-based interview.  Results: The study found that majority of subjects has good knowledge about breastfeeding. 92.4% mothers reported knowledge of putting the baby on the breast within an hour of birth. 65% had the correct breastfeeding position knowledge. Majority were aware that breastfeeding protects from various infections and that colostrum or first milk serves as the first immunization for the baby. 90.3% knew the correct definition of complementary feeding. Most of the subjects planned to breastfeed their baby for a year or more (86.8%).  Conclusions: Majority mothers had good knowledge of breastfeeding and complementary feeding and good breastfeeding practices were being followed. This study brought out that educated mothers had better breastfeeding knowledge and practices, thus highlighting to the importance of formal education in mothers.

Background: The status of breast milk practices is dismal in India in spite of specialized nutrient to newborns by way of breast milk. Culture influences breastfeeding decisions of mothers which have an influence on overall growth, development, health and nourishment of infants and children. Objectives: Assessing the maternal information, approach, and practices towards breastfeeding among mothers. Breastfeeding correlation with a number of antenatal visits, hospital education, maternal education, parity, mode of delivery, holding the baby after delivery, socioeconomic status, employment, religion and sex of the child, and prelacteal feeds. Methods: In a study, 400 mothers with children up to 2 years attending hospitals over a one year period. Data was collected using a self-administered standardized questionnaire. Statistical Analysis: The data was analysed regarding mean, frequencies, percentages, Chi-Square test and Spearman’s correlation test. Results: Breast feeding was deferred in mothers who delivered by Caesarean section due to mothers being kept for observation. Forty-three point eight % of mothers initiated first breast feeds within an hour. Eighty-eight point six % had initiated breastfeeds within one to four hours, however, it was. Prelacteal feeds were given by twenty-seven % mothers. Most mothers fed colostrum to the infants. Mean duration of exclusive breastfeeding was four and a half months. There was no association between duration of exclusive breastfeeding with parity, hospital education, holding of baby socioeconomic status and sex of the child. 34% of mothers administered in addition to breast feeding bottle-feeding. The mean age of starting complementary foods was 6 and half months. Conclusion: Due to cultural factors and other social promotional activities, the majority of the mothers had adequate knowledge and a positive attitude towards infant breastfeeding practice. Delay in the initiation of breastfeeding will impact education programs and neonatal feeding practices.

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