title: Duration of breastfeeding for mothers of twins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the incidence and duration of breastfeeding for mothers of twins and identify factors that affected this duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analysis of data from a larger longitudinal predictive study of maternal attachment in mothers of twins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paper and pencil questionnaires once during pregnancy and twice in the first 6 months postpartum.
  
  
  METHODS
  123 women recruited from a national support group for mothers of twins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mothers' Information Tool, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Index of Breastfeeding Status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  110 (89.4%) of the sample initiated breastfeeding or initiated a milk supply by pumping. Percentage of breast milk feedings at time 2 predicted whether or not a woman was still breastfeeding at time 3 (odds ratio = 3.63, p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high percentage of breastfeeding initiation was found despite the increased care burden that has been described for mothers of twins. Mothers who continued to breastfeed at time 3 provided a high percentage of the twins' milk feedings as breast milk. The results suggest that mothers who are able to persist with the difficulties of establishing a milk supply for twins and feeding two infants are able to continue providing a high percentage of the infants' feedings as breast milk.
authors.affiliation: Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106-4904, USA. egd@case.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Damato
authors.forename: Donna A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dowling
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Madigan
authors.forename: Chalida
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thanattherakul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014427:Twins; D014481:United States