161554 To breastfeed or not: How do mothers' feelings change over six months?

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Ann M. Dozier, RN, PhD , Community and Preventive Medicine/Division Public Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Cindy R. Howard, MD, MPH , Pediatrics, Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, NY
Cynthia K. Childs, MFA, MPH , Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Carol Podgorski, PhD , General Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Ruth A. Lawrence, MD , Pediatrics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
The National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign stirred debate that emphasizing the risks of not breastfeeding could contribute to guilt feelings among formula-feeding mothers (FF). Evidence describing how mothers feel about their infant feeding decisions is lacking.

207 FF and 256 postpartum breastfeeding (BF) mothers were surveyed about their infant feeding choices. At six months, 148 of these mothers (56 BF; 85 FF) were resurveyed (27 categorical questions including influences on, changes in and mothers feelings (e.g. comfort, regret, guilt) regarding infant feeding choice).

BF were more likely to be married, primiparous or prior breastfeeding experience. Immediately postpartum, >94% of both groups reported feeling very comfortable with their decision. Among FF mothers, 13% indicated difficulty with the decision (p<.05). FF mothers were more likely to report feelings of comfort, guilt and regret while BF mothers reported more feelings of happiness, fear, and worry. When identifying their strongest emotion FF mothers reported comfort and relief while BF mothers reported happiness and worry.

Six months later, BF as compared to FF mothers were more likely to report feelings of comfort [OR 4.0 (CI:1.1-15.1)] and happiness [OR 4.6 (CI:1.8-12.7)] about their feeding decision. Factor analysis of these data yielded three factors (guilt/regret; worry/relief and comfort/happiness) that accounted for 60% of the variance.

Despite feelings of happiness and comfort in the immediate postpartum period both FF and BF mothers reported negative, albeit different, feelings (guilt/regret vs fear/worry). By six months postpartum, BF mothers report feelings of comfort and happiness with their infant feeding decisions.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe a methodology to assess maternal feelings about infant feeding decisions. 2. Discuss how feeling may change from immediate post partum to six months after delivery

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Infant Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.