title: Chinese mothers intention to breastfeed, actual achievement and early postnatal experience.
abstract: Thirty Chinese primiparous mothers were asked during the antenatal period their breastfeeding intention and then interviewed at delivery and 6 weeks post delivery. One mother had no intention to breastfeed. Ten mothers intended exclusive breastfeeding for one month and 19 for 6 weeks or more. At 6 weeks post delivery only 4 mothers were still breastfeeding. A total of 22 (73%) did not achieve their initial intention. For any future pregnancy, 5 chose exclusive breastfeeding, 22 complementary and 3 formula feeding. Chinese primiparous mothers have high breastfeeding intentions but the majority do not achieve them and their experience has discouraged them from exclusive breastfeeding in future pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Kulim, 09000 Kulim, Kedah.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Teh
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D009042:Motivation; D010298:Parity