Objective: To explore the relationship of early breastfeeding behaviors after Cesarean section (CS) to long-term breastfeeding outcome. Materials and Methods: A total of 648 healthy breastfeeding primiparas (333 delivered by CS, and 315 by vaginal birth) were recruited from three teaching hospitals using probability proportional to size sampling method. Data of the first 3 days breastfeeding behaviors, including breastfeeding initiation, frequency and duration, formula supplement, and infant sucking performance, were gathered. Ordinal cumulative odds logistic regression model were conducted to explore the effect of CS on breastfeeding outcome at fifth day, and first, fourth, and sixth month before and after adjusting for the variants of early breastfeeding behaviors. Results: The unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) for lower breastfeeding rates associated with CS were 2.11 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.58-2.81), 2.67 (95% CI: 1.96-3.63), 1.60 (95% CI: 1.19-2.15), and 1.36 (95% CI: 1.01-1.83) at the fifth day, and first, fourth, and sixth month. After adjusting for the early breastfeeding behaviors, the negative effect of CS on long-term breastfeeding was attenuated, and no longer significant at fifth day (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.70-1.47) and fourth month (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.79-1.62) and sixth month (OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.56-1.17). Conclusions: CS had a detrimental effect on early breastfeeding behaviors and long-term breastfeeding outcomes. CS per se is not a negative factor, but rather those infants who have feeding difficulties in the immediate postpartum period have long-term problems.
Keywords: Cesarean section; early feeding behavior; long-term breastfeeding.