Jo Carol Chezem

Interaction of factors related to lactation duration.

Perceived social support and interpersonal dependency were studied as potential factors associated with lactation duration based upon previous breastfeeding experience. Inexperienced breastfeeding mothers perceived more social support than experienced breastfeeding mothers did. Perceived social support was not significantly correlated with lactation duration. An ancillary finding was that women providing a combination of breast milk and human milk substitutes had significantly lower social self-confidence than did mothers providing breast milk exclusively.

Effect of Professional Postpartum Support on Infant Feeding Patterns Among Breastfeeding Participants in the WIC Program

The purpose of this study was to determine if professional breastfeeding support could postpone formula introduction and prolong breastfeeding among participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Fifty women in the experimental group received home visits and phone calls from a lactation educator following hospital discharge; 50 control group women were encouraged to contact a lactation educator as needed. Infants ages at formula introduction and breastfeeding continuation rates were not significantly different between the groups. Common reasons for breastfeeding cessation included returning to work/school, inadequate milk supply, and latch-on/suckling problems. Use of telephone contacts, delay of breastfeeding support until after hospital discharge, and early formula supplementation may have contributed to the ineffectiveness of the intervention.

Breastfeeding Support in Women With and Without Prior Breastfeeding Experience

Abstract One hundred and seventy pregnant women were recruited from a private obstetrics clinic and prenatal classes in a large midwestern city. Subjects were interviewed by telephone prenatally to collect demographic information. At 4 weeks postpartum, participants completed a social support questionnaire (Hughes Breastfeeding Support Scale, Hughes). Subjects were contacted at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months postpartum to determine length of lactation. One hundred and fifty-three women (80 first-time breastfeeders, 73 experienced breastfeeders) completed all study requirements. The majority of all women were Caucasian (94%), lived in homes with incomes greater than 200% of the poverty level (90%), and had completed at least some college classes (88%). Subjects with prior breastfeeding experience reported significantly longer durations of lactation than those with no breastfeeding experience (p=0.001). New breastfeeding mothers perceived significantly more total support than did experienced breastfeeding mothers (p=0.033). They also perceived more task oriented support (p=0.007), emotional support (p=0.0l4), and informational support (p=0.039) than experienced breastfeeding mothers. For both groups, lactation duration was not significantly related to total support, emotional support, task oriented support, or informational support (p>0.05). The majority of studies to date have focused on the primipara, to the exclusion of the experienced breastfeeding mother, in examining the relationship between social support and breastfeeding duration. Results of the present study suggest that social support, in isolation, does not influence breastfeeding duration and that the social support needs of experienced breastfeeding mothers may be different from those breastfeeding for the first time.

Relationships among Maternal Locus of Control, Prenatal Sources of Infant Feeding Information, and Infant Feeding Choices

Abstract Ninety-eight women were recruited for the study during their third trimester of pregnancy from private obstetrical practices. Each subject was asked to complete a demographic survey, a questionnaire on sources of infant feeding information, and an instrument which assessed locus of control (Generalized Expectancies for Internal Versus External Locus of Control, Rotter). Of the 89 subjects who completed the study, 30 planned to breastfeed, 28 planned to formula-feed, and 31 planned to feed a combination of breast milk and formula during the first month postpartum. Subjects ages ranged from 16 to 39 years. Ninety-eight percent of the participants were white and 62% had at least some college education. The three groups were not statistically different in age (p>.05) and education (p=.05). Locus of control scores were not statistically different among women in the three groups (p>.05). The most frequently cited sources of infant feeding information were health care providers (82%) and reading materials (82%). At least two-thirds of subjects indicated they had received information from family (75%) and/or friends (73%). There were no significant differences in information sources used by women in the three groups. Overall, subjects initiated the interaction more frequently with family (73%) and friends (73%) than with health care providers (30%). Although previous research suggests those with an external locus of control are more likely to initiate health education, the present study found no relationship between maternal locus of control and initiation of infant feeding discussions. Additional research is needed to explore strategies dietitians and other health care professionals can utilize to optimize breastfeeding promotion and education activities during the prenatal period.