Maternal hospital experiences associated with breastfeeding at 6 months in a northern California county

J Hum Lact. 2010 Aug;26(3):274-85. doi: 10.1177/0890334410362222. Epub 2010 May 19.

Abstract

A retrospective cohort study of infant-feeding practices at 6 months of age was conducted for 382 breastfed infants in a semirural northern California county. The authors hypothesized that almost exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months would be related to maternal experiences in the hospital. Multiple logistic regression analysis, controlling for maternal age and education, found that almost exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months was positively associated with receiving a telephone number for breastfeeding help from the hospital (odds ratio, 6.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-33.9), use of a breast pump in the first 6 months (odds ratio, 2.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-4.76), and gestational age (odds ratio, 2.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-4.71 for a 4-week age difference), whereas formula supplementation at the hospital had a negative association (odds ratio, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.56). Making postpartum breastfeeding support easily accessible and offering breast pumps at low or no cost may help to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates in this county.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Feeding / epidemiology
  • Breast Feeding / psychology*
  • California / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Hospitals, Maternity / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Logistic Models
  • Maternal Age
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Social Support*
  • Time Factors