title: The differential effects of full-time and part-time work status on breastfeeding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Return to work is associated with diminished breastfeeding. Although more mothers breastfeed after returning to work compared to a decade ago, research has not documented the variations in breastfeeding initiation and duration based on full-time and part-time (less than 35h/week) work status. In this study, we clarify these differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, collected between 2005 and 2007, for over 1400 mothers are used. In analyzing initiation, mother's work status was categorized by the expected number of hours she planned to work postpartum. In the duration model, work status was categorized based on the actual number of hours worked upon mother's return to employment after controlling for baby's age when she returned to work. Covariates in logistic and censored regressions included demographics, maternity leave, parity, past breastfeeding experience, hospital experience, and social support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with expecting not to work, expecting to work <35h/week was not associated with breastfeeding initiation while expecting to work full-time decreased breastfeeding initiation. Compared with breastfeeding mothers who did not work, returning to work within 12 weeks regardless of work status and returning to work after 12 weeks while working more than 34h/week were associated with significantly shorter breastfeeding duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Part-time work and increased amount of leave taken promote breastfeeding initiation and duration.
authors.affiliation: Washington State University, School of Economic Sciences, Pullman, WA 99164, USA. bmandal@wsu.edu
authors.forename: Bidisha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: Brian Eric
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: Sara Beck
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Fein
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014931:Women, Working / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance