L’hospitalisation en réanimation d’un nouveau-né (NN) complique la mise en place de l’allaitement maternel (AM). Notre étude recherchait les facteurs gestationnels et maternels, pouvant influencer le taux d’allaitement maternel (TAM) en réanimation.

Étude rétrospective en réanimation néonatale à l’hôpital Béclère, centre périnatal de type 3, du 1^er mai 2009 au 30 avril 2010 avec recueil des données maternelles, néonatales et de l’alimentation néonatale dans les dossiers.

Les prématurés représentaient 74,8 % des 460 dossiers étudiés. Le poids de naissance (PN) médian était de 1900g. Le TAM initial, de 58,7 %, diminuait à 43,9 % à la sortie du service. Un TAM plus important était associé : aux grossesses par procréation médicalement assistée (PMA) (70,3 % versus 55,8 %, p<0,05), à la primiparité (64,9 % versus 53,6 % pour les multipares, p<0,05) et à l’âge des mères allaitantes en cas de PMA (33,9 versus 32,1ans, p<0,05). Âge maternel seul, mode d’accouchement, terme, PN et trophicité n’influençaient pas le TAM.

Le TAM était inférieur aux recommandations internationales. Chez les NN en réanimation, une grossesse issue de PMA est décrite pour la première fois comme facteur positif pour l’AM. Un âge maternel plus élevé et un nombre de grossesses multiples plus fréquent en cas de PMA peuvent l’expliquer, mais aussi une information – allaitement plus soutenue en prénatal. L’initiation de l’AM et sa prolongation nécessitent une formation des personnels pour un discours précoce unique et cohérent.

Admission at birth to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) complicates breastfeeding especially for preterm babies despite hospital staff trained to encourage breastfeeding. The aim of this study was to find factors related to the mother, the pregnancy or the neonate influencing breastfeeding rate on a NICU.

This was a retrospective study including neonatal admissions to the NICU at Antoine-Béclère University Hospital from 1st May 2009 to 30th April 2010. Data was collected from medical notes. The breastfeeding rate (at initiation and at discharge) was analysed with regards to maternal age, method of procreation, type of pregnancy (single or multiple), parity, mode of delivery (vaginal delivery or C-section), birthweight, gestational age and intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR).

The study was based on 460 neonates having complete documentation. The average maternal age was 32 years. Premature infants represented 74.8% of the population (median gestational age=34 weeks) of which 57% were less than 33 weeks (42.6% of all infants, n=196). The median birthweight was 1900g with 17.6% of IUGR infants. Breastfeeding rate at initiation was 58.7 and 43.9% at discharge (mean admission days: 17.1 [0–180], median=8 days). For infants born of multiple pregnancies (24.3% of the population) 51.6% were born of medically assisted pregnancies (MAP) and 17.6% of spontaneous pregnancies. Breastfeeding rate among these infants was 57.1% at initiation and 45.5% at discharge. It was higher in infants born of MAP at initiation (70.3% versus 55.8% for spontaneous pregnancies, P<0.05) and at discharge (49.5% versus 42.5% for spontaneous pregnancies). For these infants, average maternal age was higher for breastfed infants (33.9 versus 32.1 years for the formula-fed, P<0.05). Breastfeeding rate in infants born to primipares was higher at initiation (64.9% versus 53.6% for multipares, P<0.05) and at discharge (48.5% versus 40.8% for multipares, P<0.05). The rate of infants breastfed was influenced neither by maternal age alone (31.8±5.6 versus 31.4±5.7 years for formula-fed), nor by type of delivery (56.7% for infants born by C-section versus 62.5% for infants born by vaginal delivery), nor gestational age (33.2±4.3 weeks for breastfed, versus 33.4±4.2 weeks for formula-fed infants), nor birthweight (2060±978g for breastfed versus 2055±909g for formula-fed infants), nor IUGR (58% versus 58.8% for eutrophes).

Our maternal population was different as 16.7% of deliveries were accounted for by MAP, superior to the French average (<10%). We describe for the first time MAP as a positive influencing factor on breastfeeding rates in newborns admitted to a NICU. A better breastfeeding information policy during pregnancy, higher maternal age and increased multiple pregnancies would explain a higher breastfeeding rate among the women who had MAP. An impact of increasing maternal age was found on the rate of breastfed infants born of MAP. Primiparity was also a contributing factor for breastfeeding. Professional formation for all hospital staff concerned would be essential to give out clear and consistent information to families and to encourage support and intimacy throughout hospitalisation as well as at discharge.