Factors influencing breast feeding.

Abstract

A survey is reported of infant feeding practice at the time of discharge from a single maternity ward. It is shown that a change in the attitude of nursing staff increased the number of mothers breast feeding their infants and eliminated the practice of giving the infants formula feed complements. This change in attitude, however, did nothing to prevent the rapid decline in lactation after leaving hospital, such that 50% of mothers discharged breast feeding were no longer doing so by 2 months. The early introduction of solid feeds was common practice, 50% of mothers discharged breast feeding having introduced mixed feeds within 2 months. Successful lactation was found to be commoner in those mothers who had themselves been breast fed in infancy and in mothers from socioeconomic classes I and II. Successful lactation was not related to parity. The survey also shows the influential role of the health visitor, district nurse, and midwife upon mothers' decisions about infant feeding.

Special Properties of Human Milk

“…99 The importance of prenatal classes in influencing a mother's decision to breastfeed and the duration of breastfeeding has been shown by several investigators. [99][100][101][102][103] In addition, an educational program will not achieve its intended goal if the mothers for whom it is intended do not have access to the program. In many cases, the immediate postpartum period will be the only opportunity for a mother with limited resources or access to health care to receive important health information.…”

Breast is no longer best: promoting normal infant feeding

“…2000). In the 20th century, breastfeeding initiation rates fell to as low as 55% in Australia (Manderson 1985), 30% in the UK (McKean et al. 1975) and 25% in the USA (Martinez & Krieger 1985).…”

“…However, over the past hundred years or so, artificial feeding had become so ubiquitous in many developed world settings, as to be widely viewed as the standard way to feed infants (Auerbach 1992;Henderson et al 2000). In the 20th century, breastfeeding initiation rates fell to as low as 55% in Australia (Manderson 1985), 30% in the UK (McKean et al 1975) and 25% in the USA (Martinez & Krieger 1985). While breastfeeding rates have improved, premature weaning from breastfeeding and the early use of breast milk substitutes remains a serious problem in every developed nation, including Australia, the USA, the UK, Canada and even Norway (Callen & Pinelli 2004;Lande et al 2004).…”

Bivariate Analyses Of Attitudes Towards Breast‐Feeding

“…Education was unexpectedly weakly associated with attitude, perhaps because few if any of the subjects were taught infant-feeding practices in secondary or tertiary institutions (18). The longterm potential of formal education to alter attitudes and behaviour is of course considerable.…”