Maternity Leave Duration and Full-time/Part-time Work Status Are Associated with US Mothers’ Ability to Meet Breastfeeding Intentions

Abstract

Background Breastfeeding provides numerous health benefits for infants and mothers; however, many infants are not breastfed as long as recommended or desired by mothers. Maternal employment is frequently cited as a barrier to breastfeeding. Objectives To assess whether maternity leave duration and return-status (full-time [FT], part-time [PT]) were associated with not meeting a mother’s intention to breastfeed at least 3 months. Methods We used data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a cohort study. Analyses were limited to women employed prenatally who intended to breastfeed 3 months or longer (n=1172). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between maternity leave duration and return to work-status (<6 weeks/FT, <6 weeks/PT, 6 weeks – 3 months/FT, 6 weeks – 3 months/PT, not working by 3 months) and meeting a mother’s intention to breastfeed at least 3 months. Results Overall, 28.8% of mothers did not meet their intention to breastfeed at least 3 months. Odds of not meeting intention to breastfeed at least 3 months were higher among mothers who returned to work FT before 3 months (<6 weeks/FT: aOR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.23 – 4.12; 6 weeks – 3 months/FT: aOR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.30 – 2.56), compared with mothers not working at 3 months. Conclusions Returning to work full-time before 3 months may reduce a mother’s ability to meet her intention to breastfeed at least 3 months. Employer support for flexible work scheduling may help more women achieve their breastfeeding goals.

In-hospital Breastfeeding and Intention to Return to Work Influence Mothers’ Breastfeeding Intentions

“…Research in the United States has shown that 70% of women begin breastfeeding in the hospital, yet only 46% are exclusively breastfeeding when they leave the hospital. 23,[27][28][29] Returning to work and plans to return to work have been associated with hindering intention, initiation, duration, and exclusive breastfeeding. [20][21][22][23][24][25] Women who are older, are married, have a higher SES, and have a higher education level are more likely to breastfeed, and to do so for longer durations.…”

“…19 Several demographic factors have been linked to breastfeeding rates, particularly education level, marital status, paternal support, maternal age, socioeconomic status (SES), and ethnicity. 23,[29][30][31] Mirkovic and associates 32 reported that when mothers were questioned during pregnancy about their plans for returning to work and breastfeeding, those who reported planning to return to work full-time were less likely to also plan to exclusively breastfeed. 20,21,[24][25][26] Breastfeeding exclusivity in the hospital, and during the early postpartum period, as well as breastfeeding duration have been associated with women's employment.…”

Impacto de la extensión del postnatal en la adherencia a la lactancia materna. Estudio de Cohorte

“…Las mujeres con postnatal de 13 semanas o más tenían más probabilidades de LME al tercer mes (OR: 2,54; 1,51-4,27/RR: 1,99; 1,38-2,69). Resultados semejantes se describen en el trabajo de Kelsey R. y cols 8 , en donde se evaluó la intención de amamantar más allá de los 3 meses, lo cual estaba estrechamente relacionado con el tiempo de reinicio de las actividades laborales, por tanto las probabilidades de no cumplir la intención de amamantar era mayor en las madres que retornan al trabajo antes de los 3 meses (OR: 2,25, IC 95% 1,23-4,12), entre las 6 semanas y 3 meses (OR: 1,82, IC 95% 1,30-2,56), comparadas con las madres que retomaban vida laboral posterior a los 3 meses. Los resultados de Jennifer S. Pitonyak y cols 15 , señalaron que la permanencia de los lactantes con sus madres trabajando desde la casa, se asociaba a mayor adherencia a la LME al cuarto mes (p = 0,0001).…”

“…El empleo materno se cita frecuentemente como una barrera para mantener la lactancia materna. Las probabilidades de no cumplir la intención de amamantar son mayores en los trabajos de tiempo completo, en comparación a madres autó-nomas o que trabajan tiempo parcial, que alcanzaban un tiempo de lactancia no menor a 4 meses 8 . También se asocia a una mayor propensión a amamantar duExtensión del postnatal y lactancia materna -R. Madrid Muñoz et al…”

Becoming-(breastfeeding-)woman: women’s body practices and experiences at the intersection of breastfeeding, milk insufficiency, and milk sharing

“…Health and Welfare (2010) 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016) 3 McAndrew et al (2010) Factors including the lack of maternity leave provisions in the US (and North America more broadly), sociocultural context and public attitudes towards breastfeeding, and common birth practices and perinatal outcomes are understood to contribute to women's experiences and lowered rates of breastfeeding in that country (Hobbs, Mannion, McDonald, Brockway, & Tough, 2016;Mirkovic, Perrine, Scanlon, & Grummer-Strawn, 2014;Ogbuanu, Glover, Probst, Liu, & Hussey, 2011). In the UK, and elsewhere, it has been theorised that the emergence and widespread influence of infant formula as a predominant mode of infant feeding has impacted breastfeeding rates.…”