Association of Child Care Providers Breastfeeding Support with Breastfeeding Duration at 6 Months

Abstract

Many lactating mothers participate in the workforce and have their infants cared for outside of their home, yet little is known about their child care providers' (CCPs') support of breastfeeding. This study examines the association between CCPs' breastfeeding support as reported by mothers at 3 months and mother's breastfeeding at 6 months. Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a longitudinal study, followed mothers of infants via mail questionnaires almost monthly from late pregnancy throughout the first year. This study consisted of 183 mothers who breastfed and had their infant in child care at 3 months and answered 5 questions regarding CCPs' supports. Total number of CCPs' support was a summary of responses to individual items and categorized into 3 levels (0-2, 3-4, or 5 total supports). Multiple logistic regressions examined how each breastfeeding support and total number were associated with breastfeeding at 6 months. Breastfeeding at 6 months was significantly associated with CCP support to feed expressed breast milk (AOR = 4.55; 95% CI = 1.09, 18.95) and allow mothers to breastfeed at the child care place before or after work (AOR = 6.23; 95% CI = 1.33, 29.16). Compared to mothers who reported fewer than 3 total supports, mothers who reported 5 supports were 3 times as likely to be breastfeeding at 6 months (AOR = 3.00, 95% CI = 1.11, 8.13). Our findings suggest that CCPs' breastfeeding support at 3 months, particularly feeding expressed breast milk and allowing mothers to breastfeed before or after work, may help mothers maintain breastfeeding at 6 months.

Childcare workers’ experiences of supporting exclusive breastfeeding in Kuala Muda District, Malaysia: a qualitative study

“…Our findings were consistent with other studies outcomes in the literature [27, 28, 30]. Batan et al [27] also found that good support from childcare providers at three months may help mothers to prolong breastfeeding up to six months.…”

“…Batan et al [27] also found that good support from childcare providers at three months may help mothers to prolong breastfeeding up to six months. This finding indicates the important role that can be played by childcare workers to enhance breastfeeding practice in the local population, as most of the babies were sent to them at the age of three months old, when most mothers return to work after their maternity leave is over.…”

“…Hence, childcare workers and settings can be primary sources of support for working mothers who want to breastfeed by helping to store, handle and feed the baby with breastmilk while the mother is at work [25]. In studies examining childcare providers’ support of breastfeeding, Javanparast et al [26] and Batan et al [27] found that by helping to feed expressed breastmilk and allowing mothers to breastfeed before or after work, childcare providers helped mothers maintain breastfeeding at six months postpartum. Nevertheless, Lucas et al [28] found some knowledge deficit among childcare providers in the area of health benefits and proper handling of breastmilk, indicating the need for adequate support and training for them to help working mothers.…”

Bed‐sharing by breastfeeding mothers: who bed‐shares and what is the relationship with breastfeeding duration?

“…) and how to use this knowledge to best support mothers in achieving their breastfeeding goals (e.g. ).…”

An Exploratory Look at the Role of Childcare Providers as a Support and Resource for Breastfeeding Mothers

“…The longitudinal Infant Feeding Practices Study II surveyed mothers who had breastfed and used childcare about five potential breastfeeding supports from childcare providers. 13 Mothers who reported receiving all five supports were thrice as likely to be breastfeeding at 6 months, compared to mothers who felt they received fewer than three of these supports. In another study, an exploration into the association between childcare use, WIC participation, and breastfeeding duration found childcare use to be an independent risk factor for short breastfeeding duration.…”