TY - JOUR
T1 - Breastfeeding Difficulties and Risk for Early Breastfeeding Cessation
AU - Gianni, Maria Lorella
AU - Bettinelli, Maria Enrica
AU - Manfra, Priscilla
AU - Sorrentino, Gabriele
AU - Bezze, Elena
AU - Plevani, Laura
AU - Cavallaro, Giacomo
AU - Raffaeli, Genny
AU - Crippa, Beatrice Letizia
AU - Colombo, Lorenzo
AU - Morniroli, Daniela
AU - Liotto, Nadia
AU - Roggero, Paola
AU - Villamor, Eduardo
AU - Marchisio, Paola
AU - Mosca, Fabio
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2019/9/20
Y1 - 2019/9/20
N2 - Although breast milk is the normative feeding for infants, breastfeeding rates are lower than recommended. We investigated breastfeeding difficulties experienced by mothers in the first months after delivery and their association with early breastfeeding discontinuation. We conducted a prospective observational study. Mothers breastfeeding singleton healthy term newborns at hospital discharge were enrolled and, at three months post-delivery, were administered a questionnaire on their breastfeeding experience. Association among neonatal/maternal characteristics, breastfeeding difficulties and support after hospital discharge, and type of feeding at three months was assessed using multivariate binary logistic regression analysis. We enrolled 792 mothers, 552 completed the study. Around 70.3% of mothers experienced breastfeeding difficulties, reporting cracked nipples, perception of insufficient amount of milk, pain, and fatigue. Difficulties occurred mostly within the first month. Half of mothers with breastfeeding issues felt well-supported by health professionals. Maternal perception of not having a sufficient amount of milk, infant's failure to thrive, mastitis, and the return to work were associated with a higher risk of non-exclusive breastfeeding at three months whereas vaginal delivery and breastfeeding support after hospital discharge were associated with a decreased risk. These results underline the importance of continued, tailored professional breastfeeding support.
AB - Although breast milk is the normative feeding for infants, breastfeeding rates are lower than recommended. We investigated breastfeeding difficulties experienced by mothers in the first months after delivery and their association with early breastfeeding discontinuation. We conducted a prospective observational study. Mothers breastfeeding singleton healthy term newborns at hospital discharge were enrolled and, at three months post-delivery, were administered a questionnaire on their breastfeeding experience. Association among neonatal/maternal characteristics, breastfeeding difficulties and support after hospital discharge, and type of feeding at three months was assessed using multivariate binary logistic regression analysis. We enrolled 792 mothers, 552 completed the study. Around 70.3% of mothers experienced breastfeeding difficulties, reporting cracked nipples, perception of insufficient amount of milk, pain, and fatigue. Difficulties occurred mostly within the first month. Half of mothers with breastfeeding issues felt well-supported by health professionals. Maternal perception of not having a sufficient amount of milk, infant's failure to thrive, mastitis, and the return to work were associated with a higher risk of non-exclusive breastfeeding at three months whereas vaginal delivery and breastfeeding support after hospital discharge were associated with a decreased risk. These results underline the importance of continued, tailored professional breastfeeding support.
KW - breastfeeding difficulties
KW - early breastfeeding cessation
KW - term infants
KW - breastfeeding support
KW - MOTHERS
KW - REASONS
KW - SUPPORT
KW - PROGRAMS
KW - MASTITIS
U2 - 10.3390/nu11102266
DO - 10.3390/nu11102266
M3 - Article
C2 - 31547061
SN - 2072-6643
VL - 11
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
IS - 10
M1 - 2266
ER -