Individual and Organizational Factors Associated With Breastfeeding Practices in Employed Mothers

Breastfeeding is recommended for infants through 6 months of age, when solid foods are introduced, and continued until 12 months of age. However, many mothers in the United States discontinue breastfeeding at an early age and return to work following childbirth. The purpose of this study was to identify individual and organizational factors associated with breastfeeding practices in a sample of employed mothers who participated in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II.

A secondary analysis was conducted on a sample of 953 employed mothers who completed the Infant Feeding Practices Study II between 2005 and 2007. The analysis compares infant feeding status (breastfeeding/feeding pumped milk vs. not breastfeeding/feeding pumped milk) over a 12-month period, using generalized linear mixed modeling (GLMM).

Generalized linear mixed modeling (GLMM) revealed that working mothers who were employed part-time (≤34 hours/week) were 97% more likely to continue breastfeed compared with mothers employed full-time over the 12-month follow-up period (OR = 1.97, p = .002). Mothers who perceived high levels of breastfeeding support in the workplace were 178% more likely to continue breastfeeding compared with those with low levels of perceived support (OR = 2.78, p < .001).

Prenatal breastfeeding only feeding intentions, non-smoking, part-time employment, and higher levels of perceived breastfeeding support in the workplace were significant predictors of breastfeeding/feeding pumped milk at all time points.

Occupational health nurses may be able to address barriers to breastfeeding in the workplace and improve supportive workplace practices to promote continued breastfeeding in employed mothers consistent with national and international recommendations.