Lactation duration: influences of human milk replacements and formula samples on women planning postpartum employment.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the influences of inhospital administration of breast milk replacements and receipt of formula samples on lactation duration among women planning postpartum employment.


METHODS
Prospective design.


METHODS
Telephone interviews conducted prenatally and at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-partum.


METHODS
Sixty-nine participants entered the study; 53 completed all scheduled interviews.


METHODS
Incidence and type of in-hospital human milk replacement, incidence and sources of formula samples, incidence of breastfeeding at 6 weeks postpartum, and duration of lactation.


RESULTS
During hospitalization, 19% of infants received formula; the incidence of breastfeeding at 6 weeks and duration of breastfeeding were significantly shorter in these infants compared with infants who were not fed formula. Fifty-nine percent of participants received formula samples from the hospital, 30% received samples from a physician's office, and 51% received samples by mail. Receipt of formula samples by mail was associated with reduced incidence of breastfeeding at 6 weeks and shortened duration of lactation.


CONCLUSIONS
Early formula feeding and receipt of formula samples by mail may be barriers to lactation in women employed outside the home.
Chezem
J
J
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA.
Friesen
C
C
Montgomery
P
P
Fortman
T
T
Clark
H
H
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing; D008895:Milk, Human; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors