Objectives: To study the prevalence, evaluate the predisposing factors and know the etiological factors associated with mastitis in lactating mothers during puerperium. Materials and methods: A prospective study was performed from January 1 st , 2014 to December 31 st , 2015. Data were collected from patients admitted in the postnatal ward with benign breast problems by preformatted questionnaires. Breast milk cultures were done to evaluate the etiological factors. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. Results: The overall prevalence of puerperal mastitis among lactating mothers was 5.1%, high among caesarean section patients (5.8%) compared to vaginally delivered patients (4.8%). The predisposing factors include primipara (57%), unbooked cases (57%), low socioeconomic status (49%), anemic patients (45%), breast engorgement (75%), cracked nipple (44%), retracted/flat/inverted nipple (13%), poor attachment of baby to breast (32%), infrequent removal of milk (7%), oversupply of breast milk (37.5%) and lower supply of breast milk(12.5%). Breast milk culture reports yielded growth of Staphylococcus aureus (75%) and MRSA (25%). Seven patients developed breast abscess (4.4%). Conclusion: It is recommended to educate the mothers and the family on the exclusive breast feeding practice and its benefits, demand feeding, optimal positioning and attachment of the baby, to provide adequate emotional support and access to skilled help in the early postpartum period.

BACKGROUNDIt was noted in 1951 that although pregnancies persisting beyond 300 days occurred less than 5% of the time, they accounted for 30% of perinatal deaths. In the most recent Technical Bulletin on post-term pregnancy, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists reiterated the threshold of 42 weeks of gestation as the definition of post-term pregnancy. Their continued use of 42 weeks is particularly surprising in the face of an abundance of research demonstrating that induction of labour at 41 weeks of gestation and beyond leads to lower rates of neonatal morbidity and lower rates of caesarean deliveries. Our study is to find out the prevalence of spontaneous onset of labour and prevalence of maternal and perinatal morbidity beyond 37 weeks of gestation up to 41 weeks.