title: Overcoming barriers to breastfeeding continuation and exclusivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review recent research that delineates predictors of breastfeeding duration and exclusivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many mothers find it difficult to meet personal goals and follow expert recommendations for continued and exclusive breastfeeding despite increased rates of initiation. Recent studies have revealed varied sociodemographic, biomedical, and psychosocial determinants of breastfeeding duration and exclusivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to help mothers meet personal goals and expert recommendations for breastfeeding, pediatricians should educate themselves regarding predictors of and barriers to successful breastfeeding. Once these predictors and barriers have been identified, targeted anticipatory guidance can be provided to help mothers achieve breastfeeding success.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, USA. bonny.whalen@hitchcock.org
authors.forename: Bonny
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Whalen
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cramton
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support