title: Bed-sharing by breastfeeding mothers: who bed-shares and what is the relationship with breastfeeding duration?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the link between breastfeeding duration and bed-sharing frequency among women reporting a prenatal intention to breastfeed.
  
  
  METHODS
  About 870 participants in a randomised breastfeeding trial, recruited at mid-pregnancy, provided weekly snapshots of breastfeeding and bed-sharing behaviour for 26 weeks following birth. Strength of prenatal breastfeeding intent was recorded at recruitment using Likert-type scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Outcomes were frequency of bed-sharing at home for at least one hour per week, and time to cessation of breastfeeding. There were insufficient data to classify bed-sharing pattern in 192/870 (22%) of mothers. Of the remainder, 44% (299/678) of participants 'rarely' or 'never' bed-shared, 28% (192/678) did so 'intermittently' and 28% (187/678) did so 'often'. These three groups did not differ significantly in marital status, income, infant gestational age, maternal age or delivery mode. Significantly, more participants who bed-shared 'often' reported strong prenatal breastfeeding intent (70% vs. 57% and 56% for 'intermittent' and 'rare' bed-share groups) and attached high prenatal importance to breastfeeding (95% vs. 87% and 82%). Significantly, more women who bed-shared frequently were breastfeeding at 6 months (p < 0.0001) than those who intermittently or rarely/never bed-shared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with strong motivation to breastfeed frequently bed-share. Given the complex relationship between bed-sharing and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) appropriate guidance balancing risk minimisation with support for breastfeeding mothers is crucial.
authors: Parent-Infant Sleep Lab, Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK.
authors: Helen L
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2255-121X
authors: HL
authors: Ball
authors: Institute of Health and Society, Baddiley Clark building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Howel
authors: Institute of Health and Society, Baddiley Clark building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
authors: Andy
authors: A
authors: Bryant
authors: Department of Paediatrics, St John's Hospital, Howden, Lothian, Scotland.
authors: Elspeth
authors: E
authors: Best
authors: Parent-Infant Sleep Lab, Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK.
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Russell
authors: Newcastle Neonatal Service, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Ward-Platt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001513:Beds; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Bed-sharing; Breastfeeding; Breastfeeding intent; Co-sleeping; SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome