Prevalence of Breast Milk Expression and Associated Factors

Abstract

OBJECTIVES. Our goal was to describe the prevalence of any, occasional, and regular breast milk expression, mothers' reasons for expressing their milk, and sociodemographic factors associated with breast milk expression. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS. Breastfeeding mothers participating in the 2005–2007 Infant Feeding Practices Study II formed the cohort for these analyses, which were conducted among those with infants in 3 age groups: 1.5 to 4.5 months (n = 1564); >4.5 to 6.5 months (n = 1128); and >6.5 to 9.5 months (n = 914). For the analyses we used frequency and stepwise multiple logistic regression procedures. RESULTS. Eighty-five percent of breastfeeding mothers of infants in the youngest age group had successfully expressed milk at some time since their infant was born. When asked only about the previous 2-week period, 68% of the breastfeeding mothers of infants in this youngest age group had expressed milk, with 43% having done so occasionally and 25% on a regular schedule. Approximately one quarter of breastfeeding mothers of infants in the 2 older infant age groups also expressed milk on a regular schedule. The percentage of mothers expressing milk decreased with increasing infant age. Mothers expressed milk for various reasons. The most frequently cited reason was to get breast milk for someone else to feed their infant. In all 3 age groups, reporting any breast milk expression, compared with none, was positively associated with maternal employment, higher income, lack of previous breastfeeding experience, and living in the Midwest versus the West. In all 3 age groups, expressing milk on a regular schedule, compared with occasionally, was positively associated with maternal employment and the use of an electric versus manual breast pump. CONCLUSIONS. Breast milk expression is a very common practice. It is associated most strongly with maternal employment, a recognized barrier to breastfeeding.

Infant Feeding and Care Practices in the United States: Results From the Infant Feeding Practices Study II

“…Other reasons, such as issues related to lactation physiology and selfweaning, varied according to weaning age. LabinerWolfe et al 11 documented for the first time in the literature the characteristics of milk expression. A very large proportion of breastfeeding mothers expressed milk (85%), and approximately one quarter did so regularly.…”

Early Breast Milk Pumping Intentions Among Postpartum Women

“…1 The majority of both primiparous and multiparous women in our study intended to pump by 6 weeks postpartum, which often is before women are separated for substantial amounts of time from their infants. Little is known about the intentions and practices of pumping immediately postpartum.…”

“…9 Questions regarding the reasons for pumping were adapted from the questions in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II. 1 …”

“…1 Studies on the prevalence and health effects of breastfeeding often do not differentiate between infants fed directly at the breast and those who were bottle-fed pumped human milk. 2,3 The distinction is important as feeding patterns, as well as the outcomes related to breast milk feeding, may differ for infants who are fed expressed milk rather than fed directly at the breast.…”

Microbial Contamination of Human Milk Purchased Via the Internet

“…In fact, 85% of breastfeeding mothers in the US Infant Feeding Practices Study II expressed milk within the first 5 months postpartum. 3 Sharing human milk between those with an abundant supply and those seeking milk for their child may be growing in popularity, facilitated by Web sites recently established to link providers and recipients. [4][5][6][7] The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends against feeding milk obtained in this way, and the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages feeding preterm infants fresh milk from unscreened donors.…”