International Journal of Health Sciences & Research (www.ijhsr.org) 24 Vol.6; Issue: 2; February 2016 International Journal of Health Sciences and Research www.ijhsr.org ISSN: 2249-9571 Original Research Article A Study to Assess the Breast Feeding Practices among Mothers, Who Come At the Immunization Clinic, Tertiary Care Hospital, India Anjana Niranjan, Sanjeev Kumar, Manish Kumar Post Graduate Student, Department of Community Medicine, Shyam Shah Medical College, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. Corresponding Author: Anjana Niranjan Received: 04/01/2016 Revised: 20/01/2016 Accepted: 25/01/2016 ABSTRACT Introduction: Breast milk is the ideal food for the infant. No other food is required to be given until six months after birth. Breastfeeding is one of the most important determinants of child survival, birth spacing and prevention of childhood infections. Research Question: What is the prevalence of exclusive breast feeding practices and various other charecteristics. Objective: To assess the prevalence of exclusive breast feeding practices and their characteristics among mothers in Rewa city, Madhya Pradesh. Methods: Cross sectional institutional study was conducted in 106 mother with their baby < 1 year, who brought her baby for immunization at the immunization clinic, S.G.M.H. Rewa Madhya Pradesh .Data was collected by examiner themselves using a pre designed & pre tested questionnaire after taking a verbal consent then data was compiled and analyzed with the help of Instat- Graph Pad software. Results: The study revealed that out of 106 mothers who were interviewed, 103 (97.16%) have hospital delivery. 61(57.54%) were male child and 45(42.45% )were female child, Out of which 31 (29.24%)initiated breast feeding within one hour of delivery ,66 (62.26%) mothers gave Prelacteal feeds, 65(61.32%) mothers gave colostrum to the baby,43 (40.56%) mothers did exclusive breast feeding for six months,31 (29.24%) mothers added supplementary feeding at 6months of age. Conclusions: we concluded that the most of the mothers initiate breast feeding to her child was after 1 hours and within 4 hours, colostrum given pattern to child was increase but still not good we need to focus on that practices. Keywords: Breast feeding practices, colostrum, exclusive breast feeding, supplementary feeding. INTRODUCTION Breast milk is the ideal food for the infant. No other food is required to be given until six months after birth. Breastfeeding is one of the most important determinants of child survival, birth spacing and prevention of childhood infections. [1] Malnutrition of the child can start from infancy itself which is mainly due to poor infant feeding, poor knowledge about significance of breast feeding, especially the exclusive breast feeding. WHO took the lead and recommended ten steps for promoting, protecting & supporting breast feeding. [2] Exclusive breast feeding takes care of the two essential elements of newborn care - nutrition and infection control. Exclusive breast feeding should be practiced for 6 months, due to risk of infection through contaminated food and water especially in poor countries. [3] Pre-lacteal feeds carry