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Background Parents’ decisions about how to feed their newborns are influenced by multiple factors. Our objective was to identify the factors that can influence the decision to breastfeed. Methods Cross-sectional observational online study was conducted in Spain on women who gave birth between 2013 and 2018. The total number of participants was 5671. Data collection was after approval by the ethics committee in 2019. The data were collected retrospectively because the information was obtained from women who were mothers during the years 2013–2018. An online survey was distributed to breastfeeding associations and postpartum groups. Multivariate analysis with binary logistic regression was done to calculate the Adjusted Odds Ratios (aOR). The main result variable was “intention to breastfeed”. Results Ninety-seven percent (n = 5531) of women made the decision to breastfeed prior to giving birth. The internet played a role in deciding to breastfeed in 33.7% (n = 2047) of women, while 20.1% (n = 1110) said the same thing about their midwife. We identified five significant factors associated with the mother’s prenatal decision to breastfeed: attending maternal education (aOR 2.10; 95% CI 1.32, 3.34), having two (aOR 0.52; 95% CI 0.28, 0.99) and three children (aOR 0.24; 95% CI 0.10, 0.59), previous breastfeeding experience (aOR 6.99; 95% CI 3.46, 14.10), support from partner (aOR 1.58; 95% CI 1.09,2.28) and having a condition during pregnancy (aOR 0.62; 95% CI 0.43, 0.91). Conclusions Factors related with previous breastfeeding experience and education for mothers are decisive when it comes to making the decision to breastfeed. Given the proven influence that partners have in decision-making, it is important for them to be fully involved in the process.

For pregnant women, having a low family income status is associated with late prenatal attendance and an increased risk of adverse outcomes during pregnancy, delivery, and immediately after delivery. However, the influence of the socioeconomic level on maternal and child health may be minimal as long as the health system model is able to neutralise health inequity. For this reason, the objective of this study is to determine the relationship between the socioeconomic level assessed through monthly household income and obstetric and perinatal outcomes in the Spanish Health System, where midwives play a relevant role. To meet this objective, a cross-sectional observational study aimed at women who have been mothers between 2013 and 2018 in Spain was developed. The final study population was 5942 women. No statistically significant differences with linear trend were found between income level and obstetric and perinatal outcomes after the adjustment by confounding factors (pregnancy composite morbidity, p = 0.447, delivery composite morbidity, p = 0.590, perinatal composite morbidity, p = 0.082, postpartum composite morbidity, p = 0.407). The main conclusion is that, in the current Spanish health system, household income as an indicator of socioeconomic status is not related to perinatal outcomes after the adjustment by confounding factors. These results are likely due to the public model of our health system that serves all citizens on equal footing, although other social and individual factors may have influenced these results

Background Obesity is a worldwide public health problem that demands significant attention. Several studies have found that maternal obesity has a negative effect on the duration of breastfeeding and delayed lactogenesis. The World Health Organization has classified Body Max Index (BMI) as normal weight (normoweight) (BMI:18.5–24.9), overweight (BMI:25–29.9), obesity grade I (30.0–34.9), obesity grade II (BMI: 35.0–39.9) and obesity grade III (BMI ≥ 40.0). The objective of this study is to describe the relationship between maternal BMI and breastfeeding rates, as well as breastfeeding-associated problems and discomfort in women assisted by the Spanish Health System. Methods To this end, a cross-sectional observational study aimed at women who have been mothers between 2013 and 2018 in Spain was developed. The data was collected through an online survey of 54 items that was distributed through lactation associations and postpartum support groups between March and June 2019. Five thousand eight hundred seventy one women answered the survey. In the data analysis, Crude Odds Ratios (OR) and Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) were calculated through a multivariate analysis through binary and multinomial regression. Results A linear relationship was observed between the highest BMI figures and the reduction of the probability of starting skin-to-skin contact (AOR for obesity type III of 0.51 [95% CI 0.32, 0.83]), breastfeeding in the first hour (AOR for obesity type III of 0.58 [95% CI 0.36, 0.94]), and exclusive breastfeeding to hospital discharge (AOR for obesity type III of 0.57 [95% CI 0.35, 0.94]), as compared to women with normoweight. Conclusions Women with higher BMI are less likely to develop successful breastfeeding than women with normoweight.

Clinical practice guides recommend delayed clamping of the umbilical cord. If this is not possible, some authors suggest milking as an alternative. The objective of this study was to determine the variability in professional practice in the management of umbilical cord clamping and milking and to identify factors or circumstances associated with the different methods. An observational cross-sectional study done on 1,045 obstetrics professionals in Spain in 2018. A self-designed questionnaire was administered online. The main variables studied were type of clamping and use of milking. Crude odds ratios (OR) and adjusted odds ratios (ORa) were estimated using binary logistic regression. 92.2% (964) performed delayed clamping. 69.3% (724) clamped the cord when it stopped beating. 83.8% (876) had heard of milking, and 55.9% (584) had never performed it. Professionals over 50 were less likely to perform delayed clamping, with an ORa of 0.24 (95% CI: 0.11–0.52), while midwives were more likely to perform delayed clamping than obstetricians, with an ORa of 14.05 (95% CI: 8.41–23.49). There is clinical variability in the management of umbilical cord clamping and the use of milking in normal births. Part of this variability can be attributed to professional and work environment factors.

Background: Umbilical cord milking (UCM) consists of performing several milkings of the cord from the placenta to the newborn. The objective was to evaluate the effects of UCM on newborns ≥34 weeks’ gestation. Methods: Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Database of Clinical Trials, and the clinicaltrails.gov database for randomized clinical trials (RCT), with no time or language restrictions, and for articles that compared UCM with other strategies. The main results were initial hemoglobin and hemoglobin after 6 weeks. The data were collected by two reviewers and the quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Manual methodology. Results: The sample included 1845 newborns in 10 RCTs. The use of UCM in ≥34 weeks’ gestation newborns was not related to initial hemoglobin levels (pooled weighted mean difference: (PWMD = 0.40 g/L [−0.16 to 0.95]) or after 6 weeks (PWMD = 0.07 g/L [−0.29 to 0.27]). A reduction in hemoglobin levels was also observed at 6 weeks when the control group had undergone late clamping (PWDM = 0.16g/L [−0.26 to −0.06]). Conclusions: UCM produced no differences in hematologic variables for newborns with ≥34 weeks of gestation relative to controls. However, a slight decrease in hemoglobin levels is observed at 6 weeks when the control group is made up of newborns with late clamping.

Background The benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and newborn have been widely demonstrated. However, breastfeeding rates at discharge are lower than recommended, so being able to identify women at risk of not breastfeeding at discharge could allow professionals to prioritise care. Objective To develop and validate a predictive model of exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge. Design Retrospective cohort study on women who gave birth between 2014 and 2019 in Spain. Data sources The data source was a questionnaire distributed through the Spanish breastfeeding associations. The development of the predictive model was made on a cohort of 3387 women and was validated on a cohort of 1694 women. A multivariate analysis was performed by means of logistic regression, and predictive ability was determined by areas under the ROC curve (AUC). Results 80.2% (2717) women exclusively breastfed at discharge in the derivation cohort, and 82.1% (1390) in the validation cohort. The predictive factors in the final model were: maternal age at birth; BMI; number of children; previous breastfeeding; birth plan; induced birth; epidural analgesia; type of birth; prematurity; multiple pregnancy; macrosomia; onset of breastfeeding within the first hour; and skin-to-skin contact. The predictive ability (ROC AUC) in the derivation cohort was 0.76 (CI 95%: 0.74–0.78), while in the validation cohort it was 0.74 (CI 95%: 0.71–0.77). Conclusions A predictive model of exclusive maternal breastfeeding at hospital discharge has been developed, based on thirteen variables, with satisfactory predictive ability in both the derivation cohort and the validation cohort according to the Swets' criteria. This model can identify women who are at high risk of not breastfeeding at hospital discharge.

Over the past few decades, overweight and obesity have become a growing health problem of particular concern for women of reproductive age as obesity in pregnancy has been associated with increased risk of obstetric and neonatal complications. The objective of this study is to describe the incidence of obstetric and perinatal complications in relation to maternal body mass index (BMI) at the time prior to delivery within the Spanish Health System. For this purpose, a cross-sectional observational study was conducted aimed at women who have been mothers between 2013 and 2018 in Spain. Data were collected through an online survey of 42 items that was distributed through lactation associations and postpartum support groups. A total of 5871 women answered the survey, with a mean age of 33.9 years (SD = 4.26 years). In the data analysis, crude odds ratios (OR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were calculated through a multivariate analysis. A linear relationship was observed between the highest BMI figures and the highest risk of cephalopelvic disproportion (AOR of 1.79 for obesity type III (95% CI: 1.06&ndash, 3.02)), preeclampsia (AOR of 6.86 for obesity type III (3.01&ndash, 15.40)), labor induction (AOR of 1.78 for obesity type III (95% CI: 1.16&ndash, 2.74)), emergency C-section (AOR of 2.92 for obesity type III (95% CI: 1.68&ndash, 5.08)), morbidity composite in childbirth (AOR of 3.64 for obesity type III (95% CI: 2.13&ndash, 6.24)), and macrosomia (AOR of 6.06 for obesity type III (95% CI: 3.17&ndash, 11.60)), as compared with women with normoweight. Women with a higher BMI are more likely to develop complications during childbirth and macrosomia.