Newborn First Feed and Prelacteal Feeds in Mansoura, Egypt
Table 1
Type of first feed, PLFs, and their reasons.
Number
% of total
% of PLF
Type of first feed
Colostrum
273
42.2
PLF
374
57.8
Type of PLF
Sugar or glucose water
148
22.9
39.6
Infant formula
107
16.5
28.6
Herbs/decoction*
81
12.5
21.7
Animal milk diluted with water
19
2.9
5.1
Plain water
7
1.1
1.9
Gripe water**
5
0.8
1.3
Tea
3
0.5
0.8
Soft drinks
2
0.3
0.5
Juices (fresh or canned)
2
0.3
0.5
Reasons for PLFs@
Tradition/convention
228
35.2
61.0
Mother’s/mother in law’s advice
218
33.7
58.3
Keeping mouth and throat moist
209
32.3
55.9
Lack of/delay in milk production
179
27.7
47.9
Advice of health care provider
157
24.3
42.0
Infant refused suckling
144
22.3
38.5
Maternal exhaustion/illness
112
17.3
29.9
To clean infant’s gut/throat/mouth
105
16.2
28.1
Breast problems (e.g., mastitis,engorgement, and soreness)
102
15.8
27.3
To calm/soothe the baby
94
14.5
25.1
Colostrum is bad to baby
92
14.2
24.6
Allowing stool to be passed
89
13.8
23.8
Infant sickness/ICU admission
86
13.3
23.0
Nurture baby
73
11.3
19.5
Keeping baby warm
16
2.5
4.3
Such as cumin, caraway, cinnamon, aniseed, and chamomile. Commercial preparation for soothing colicky babies. Categories are not mutually exclusive. ICU: intensive care unit.
