Breastfeeding in Neonates Admitted to an NICU: 18-Month Follow-Up.

Introduction: The admission of neonates to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) has been identified as a primary inhibiting factor in the establishment of breastfeeding. The aims of this study were to (1) estimate the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding in infants/toddlers who had been admitted to an NICU in Greece and (2) to investigate factors, associated with the NICU stay, which affected the establishment and maintenance of breastfeeding in infants/toddlers previously admitted to the NICU. Materials and methods: Data for this cohort study were retrieved from interviews with mothers of infants/toddlers who had been admitted to our NICU as neonates during the period of 2017−2019.