title: Breastfeeding in obstetrics residency: exploring maternal and colleague resident perspectives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pregnancy is becoming more common in residency, and about 80% of residents are female. This leads to questions of breastfeeding, work demands, and perception of burden by colleagues. This study was designed to assess experiences of (1) breastfeeding obstetrics residents and (2) their colleagues.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study of obstetrics and gynecology residents. Residents were categorized into experience with or no experience with breastfeeding to determine differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses were obtained from 404 residents in obstetrics. Breastfeeding is common, with 90% of residents knowing a breastfeeding resident and 22% of residents reporting personal experience with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding residents (n=89) felt support from their faculty and fellow residents. More than one in three breastfeeding mothers felt they placed extra demands on colleagues, despite 80% of colleagues reporting that they did not feel that breastfeeding colleagues placed extra demands. A breastfeeding policy was important to 85% of residents, but only 7% believed their program had one. Two-thirds of breastfeeding residents struggled with low milk supply and stopped breastfeeding early.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite high levels of perceived support from faculty/fellow residents, breastfeeding residents struggle with low milk supply and work demands that lead to early discontinuation.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maricopa Integrated Health System, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA.
authors: Teresa A
authors: TA
authors: Orth
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Drachman
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Habak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010379:Peer Group; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology