Breastfeeding

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Evaluating Primary Care-Based Interventions to Promote Breastfeeding in Low-Income Women

This review identified effective programs that could be implemented by primary care physicians to promote breastfeeding in low-income women. Programs targeted at mothers after 3 months postpartum showed significant success rates. Additionally, successful programs usually involved multiple short follow-up appointments.

Sources of Education About Breastfeeding and Breast Pump Use: What Effect do they Have on Breastfeeding Duration? An Analysis of the Infant Feeding Practices Survey II

This study examines the association between breastfeeding duration and sources of education about breastfeeding and breast pumps. Results showed that breastfeeding and breast pump education were significantly associated with breastfeeding duration. Although healthcare providers such as physicians and nurses have regular contact with women, there was a negative statistically significant association between breastfeeding and breast pump education from healthcare providers and longer breastfeeding duration. This finding likely reflected the time and resource limitations of clinical practice. It might also indicate a need for more consistent training for healthcare providers who offer breastfeeding and breast pump education.

Social and Institutional Factors that Affect Breastfeeding Duration Among WIC Participants in Los Angeles County, California

The authors investigated the impact of in-hospital breastfeeding, receipt of a formula discharge pack, and maternal return to work on the long-term breastfeeding outcomes of 4,725 WIC participants in Los Angeles County, California. It was found that mothers who exclusively breastfed in the hospital were 8 times as likely to reach the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation of breastfeeding for 12 months or longer, than mothers who did not breastfeed in the hospital.

Risk of Breastfeeding Cessation Among Low-Income Women, Infants, and Children: A Discrete Time Survival Analysis

The purpose of this study was to identify the maternal background and intrapersonal predictors associated with the timing of breastfeeding cessation of mothers enrolled in the WIC Program. The results revealed that women who were older and of Mexican ethnicity, who had previous breastfeeding experience, and who had support from family or friends were at lowest risk of breastfeeding cessation.

Provision of Support Strategies and Services: Results from an Internet-Based Survey of Community-Based Breastfeeding Counselors

The objective of this study was to identify support strategies and services provided by community-based breastfeeding counselors (CBBCs) and compare differences in the extent of support provided by paid and volunteer counselors. Because of disparities in (1) CBBC usage of breastfeeding support strategies and (2) continuing education between the paid and volunteer CBBCs, the study identified the need to examine differences in training curricula and determine the facilitators and barriers of continuing education.

Prenatal Breastfeeding Intervention Program to Increase Breastfeeding Duration Among Low-Income Women

This research aimed to test the effect of the intervention program (Dennis's Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Theory) on duration of breastfeeding. The women who were assigned to a breastfeeding self-efficacy intervention showed significantly greater increases in breastfeeding duration and self-efficacy than did the women in the control group. The results of this study suggested that the 1-hour breastfeeding intervention program during the prenatal period might increase the duration of breastfeeding in low-income women who intend to breastfeed.

Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Breastfeeding: National, Regional, and State Level Analyses

This study looked at the relationship between WIC and breastfeeding initiation and duration. Using the 2007 National Immunization Survey data set, the researchers found a negative association between WIC and breastfeeding initiation and duration, compared with non-participants.

Maternal Request for In-Hospital Supplementation of Healthy Breastfed Infants Among Low-income Women

This study aimed to understand factors associated with a mother's decision to ask for infant formula in the hospital. Mothers reported the following: inadequate preparation for newborn care, lack of breastfeeding preparation, and the perception that giving their infant a formula would overcome the obstacles to breastfeeding.

Long-Term Breastfeeding Support: Failing Mothers in Need

This study analyzed mothers reports of breastfeeding care experiences from pregnancy through infancy. The results showed that mothers often felt that the education and support they received was cursory and inadequate. Some mothers received misinformation or encountered practitioners who were hostile or indifferent to breastfeeding. Mothers were not often given referrals to available resources, even after reporting breastfeeding challenges.

Is Breastfeeding Truly Cost Free? Income Consequences of Breastfeeding for Women

This study acknowledged the health advantages of breastfeeding and investigated whether there might be economic consequences, as well. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, the results showed that mothers who breastfed for 6 months or longer suffered more severe and more prolonged earnings losses than did mothers who breastfed for shorter durations, or not at all.