Sarcouncil Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract: This paper examines how the mode of delivery affects breastfeeding initiation and maternal outcomes of 160 women in Iraq between Caesarean and Vaginal Delivery. This cross-sectional study was carried out in three large hospitals over a six-month time frame, which gave a detailed analysis of demographic, clinical, and breastfeeding information about women aged between 18 and 45 years with singleton pregnancies. The data was gathered by means of structured questionnaires and medical records, which paid attention to maternal education level, parity, delivery results, complications, and breastfeeding habits. Findings indicated that breastfeeding initiation among vaginal delivery mothers was one hour in 85 per cent of the mothers, as opposed to 57.5 per cent who had a Caesarean section. Further, the mean length of time mothers spent breastfeeding was much higher among the vaginal delivery mothers (6.0 months) compared to the Caesarean delivery mothers (4.0 months). The complication rate among patients under Caesarean delivery was also higher (25 percent) than the vaginal deliveries (10 percent) of the patients. Significant differences were statistically observed in terms of perceived support of healthcare providers, where 85 percent of vaginal delivery mothers were satisfied with the perceived support of the healthcare provider against 55 percent of Caesarean delivery mothers. This paper demonstrates the necessity to provide more specific interventions to support and care for breastfeeding mothers, especially those who give birth through surgery. The results highlight the relevance of mitigating these disparities to enhance the maternal and infant health outcomes in Iraq, and that healthcare providers need to focus on implementing holistic postpartum care regardless of the delivery mode. These dynamics are not fully covered by current research, and therefore future studies should elaborate more on this to develop the best practises in maternal care.