Mothers of low birthweight infants: breastfeeding patterns and problems

The feeding behavior and problems of mothers of low birthweight (LBW) infants following hospital discharge have not been well documented. The purpose of this paper is to report the feeding patterns of LBW infants and their mothers' reasons for a decline in breastfeeding. A convenience sample of 110 mothers and infants from eight midwestern hospitals was surveyed. Eight weeks after delivery, 28 percent of the mothers were providing mother's milk exclusively, 29 percent were providing a combination of mother's milk and artificial milk, and 43 percent had weaned their infants. An inductive analysis of the reasons for a decline in breastfeeding given by the mothers yielded two primary maternal concerns: milk production and transfer of milk to the infant. Lactation management strategies that meet the special needs of these mothers and infants should be taught during hospitalization and after hospital discharge.