Working women and breastfeeding in Israel

Two-hundred and ninety-one working women in Israel were interviewed 7-9 months after childbirth. The mean number of months that they had breastfed was 2.03. The duration of breastfeeding increased with religiousity and higher education. Women born in Europe, primiparas and grandparas (4 + children) and those over the age of 40 breastfed longer. Most of the women returned to work only after completing breastfeeding. Duration of breastfeeding was reduced when the mother suffered from stress, tiredness, encountered feeding problems, or if the baby cried excessively.