Breastfeeding knowledge, breastfeeding confidence, and infant feeding plans: effects on actual feeding practices.
OBJECTIVE
To explore relationships among breastfeeding knowledge, breastfeeding confidence, and infant feeding plans and their effects on feeding practices in first-time breastfeeding mothers.


METHODS
Prospective descriptive design.


METHODS
Telephone interviews were conducted prenatally and at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postpartum.


METHODS
Seventy-four of 83 first-time mothers with prenatal intentions to breastfeed completed all study requirements. The majority were White (95%), between the ages of 21 and 30 years (73%), with a post-high school education (85%), and household incomes of more than 200% of the federal poverty guideline (88%).


METHODS
Breastfeeding knowledge, breastfeeding confidence, planned infant feeding method, planned breastfeeding duration, weeks of daily human milk substitute feeding, breastfeeding duration, achievement of breastfeeding goals.


RESULTS
Breastfeeding knowledge was strongly correlated with breastfeeding confidence (r = .262; p = .025) and actual lactation duration (r = .455; p = .0001). Compared with women planning to exclusively breastfeed their infants, those planning to combination feed planned shorter breastfeeding duration (p = .022), reported shorter actual duration (p = .004), and were less likely to meet their breastfeeding goal (p = .034). The variables maternal education, breastfeeding knowledge, and weeks of daily human milk substitute feeding were used to develop a prediction equation that correctly categorized 93% of participants who met their breastfeeding goal and 90% of those who did not.


CONCLUSIONS
Expectations and the actual breastfeeding experience differed among women planning to combination feed and those planning to exclusively breastfeed. Whether a cause or consequence, daily human milk substitute feeding was associated with negative breastfeeding outcomes.
Chezem
JoCarol
J
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306-0250, USA. 00jcchezem@bsu.edu
Friesen
Carol
C
Boettcher
Joan
J
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States