LATCH Score for the Identification and Correction of Breastfeeding Problems: A Prospective Observational Study

Background Breastfeeding is fundamental to infant survival, growth, and development, offering optimal nutrition and immunological protection while conferring long-term health benefits to both infants and mothers. Despite strong evidence supporting exclusive breastfeeding, early breastfeeding difficulties related to improper latch, positioning, and maternal discomfort remain common, particularly in the immediate postnatal period. Early identification and correction of these problems are essential to ensure successful breastfeeding. This study aimed to assess breastfeeding effectiveness using the LATCH (Latch, Audible swallowing, Type of nipple, Comfort, Hold) scoring system in the early postnatal period and to evaluate the impact of LATCH score-guided counseling and hands-on lactation support on breastfeeding outcomes. Methodology This prospective observational study was conducted among 229 primiparous mother-infant dyads delivering at term in a tertiary care hospital in Karnataka, India. Breastfeeding effectiveness was assessed using the LATCH scoring system at 1-2 hours postpartum and reassessed at 24-48 hours following structured lactation counseling and hands-on support. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), and associations were evaluated using appropriate statistical tests, with p-values