Breastfeeding duration: prenatal intentions and postnatal practices

K Lawson1, M I Tulloch

  • 1Department of Family Services and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs, Brisbane, Queensland.

A study of 78 primiparas examined the role of prenatal intent and postnatal experiences in breastfeeding duration. Those fully breastfeeding 3 months after the birth of the baby had a higher level of education, timed their decision to breastfeed earlier, intended to breastfeed longer and had a more negative attitude to formula feeding. Commitment and confidence scores were not related to breastfeeding duration in first-time mothers. Breastfeeding duration was also related to the timing of the first breastfeed and extent of mother-infant contact in the 72 hours after birth but not to the number of feeding problems.

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