title: Prenatal office practices regarding infant feeding choices.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the obstetric care providers' roles in breast-feeding promotion during prenatal care. A questionnaire addressing breast-feeding issues was sent to family practitioners (FP), obstetric-gynecologists (OB/GYN), and nurse midwives (NM) in Iowa, USA. All NM, 97% of FP, and 85% of OB/GYN reported asking infant feeding preference-usually only at the first prenatal visit. NM (73%) were most likely to provide extensive breast-feeding counseling. OB/GYN (68%) and FP physicians (90%) reported doing their own breast-feeding counseling. Breast examinations targeting future breast-feeding problems were done in 82% to 84% of patients. NM practices shared more information supportive of breast-feeding. Nearly all providers offered prenatal classes, but only 41% of FP offered breast-feeding classes. Free formula samples were available in 73% of FP, 54% of OB/GYN, and 36% NM offices. Pamphlets on formula feeding and also breast-feeding were readily available. Overall NM (64%) reported being strong breast-feeding advocates compared to only 13% of FP and 7% of OB/GYN. In conclusion, little promotion of breast-feeding occurs in most prenatal practice settings.
authors.affiliation: Carver College of Medicine and Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Lois B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Dusdieker
authors.forename: Claibourne I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Dungy
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Losch
mesh_terms: D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D003376:Counseling; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006176:Gynecology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula; D007484:Iowa; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010174:Pamphlets; D010819:Physician's Role; D010824:Physicians' Offices; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011364:Professional Practice; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires