Hospital Practices in First 72 Hours May Undermine Breastfeeding Success
A review of international research has highlighted that certain hospital practices during the first 72 hours after birth may negatively impact breastfeeding success. The study, led by experts at Sapienza University of Rome, challenges common misconceptions about early milk production, pacifier use, and the introduction of electric breast pumps. The findings suggest that these practices, often based on outdated beliefs, may hinder the establishment of breastfeeding in healthy full-term infants. The review, published in the Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, emphasizes that colostrum, the first milk produced after birth, is usually sufficient for newborns. It also notes that pacifier use does not reduce breastfeeding duration or exclusivity, and that electric breast pumps should not be routinely introduced in the early days after birth. 
