Background:Breastfeeding is beneficial to infants. However, cesarean section is reported to be a risk factor for unsuccessful breastfeeding.Research Aims:(1) To extract discriminating data from texture analysis of breast ultrasound images in the immediate postpartum period; and (2) to compare the analysis results according to delivery mode.Methods:A cross-sectional, prospective non-experimental design with a questionnaire and observational components was used. Participants (N = 30) were women who delivered neonates at a center from September 2020 to December 2020. The participants underwent ultrasound examination of bilateral breasts 7–14 days after delivery. Ultrasound images were collected for texture analysis. A questionnaire about breastfeeding patterns was given to the participants on the day of the ultrasound examination.Results:No significant differences were found in texture analysis between the breasts of participants who had undergone Cesarean section and vaginal deliveries. The mean volume of total human milk produced in 1 day was significantly greater in the vaginal delivery group than in the cesarean section group (M = 350.87 ml, SD = 183.83 vs. M = 186.20 ml, SD = 184.02; p = .017). The pain score due to breast engorgement measured subjectively by participants was significantly lower in the vaginal delivery group than in the cesarean section group (M = 2.8, SD = 0.86 vs. M = 3.4, SD = 0.63; p = .047).Conclusion:Texture analysis of breast ultrasound images did not demonstrate difference between the cesarean section and vaginal delivery groups in the immediate postpartum period; nevertheless, cesarean section was independently associated with less successful breastfeeding.

中文翻译：

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产后早期超声成像纹理分析与分娩方式的比较

背景：母乳喂养对婴儿有益​​。然而，据报道，剖宫产是母乳喂养不成功的一个危险因素。研究目的：(1) 从产后即刻乳腺超声图像的纹理分析中提取鉴别数据；(2) 根据交付模式比较分析结果。方法：使用问卷调查和观察成分的横断面、前瞻性非实验设计。参与者（N= 30) 是 2020 年 9 月至 2020 年 12 月在中心分娩新生儿的妇女。参与者在分娩后 7-14 天接受了双侧乳房超声检查。收集超声图像用于纹理分析。在超声检查当天向参与者发放了一份关于母乳喂养模式的问卷。结果：剖宫产和阴道分娩的参与者的乳房纹理分析没有显着差异。阴道分娩组 1 天内产生的平均母乳总量显着高于剖宫产组（M = 350.87 ml，SD = 183.83 vs. M = 186.20 ml，SD = 184.02；p=.017）。参与者主观测量的乳房充血引起的疼痛评分在阴道分娩组中明显低于剖宫产组（M = 2.8，SD = 0.86 vs. M = 3.4，SD = 0.63；p = .047）。 结论：乳腺超声图像的纹理分析未显示剖宫产组和阴道分娩组在产后即刻的差异；然而，剖宫产与母乳喂养不太成功独立相关。