Abstract
Socio-demographic characteristics of mothers have been associated with exclusive breastfeeding duration, but little is known
about the association with maternal full- and part-time employment and return to work in European countries. To study the
associations between breastfeeding, any and almost exclusive (infants receiving breast milk as their only milk) breastfeeding,
at 4 months of infant’s age and the socio-demographic and occupational characteristics of mothers. We used the EDEN mother–child
cohort, a prospective study of 2002 singleton pregnant women in two French university hospitals. We selected all mothers (n = 1,339)
who were breastfeeding at discharge from the maternity unit. Data on feeding practices were collected at the maternity unit
and by postal questionnaires at 4, 8 and 12 months after the birth. Among infants breastfed at discharge, 93 % were still
receiving any breastfeeding (83 % almost exclusive breastfeeding) at the 3rd completed week of life, 78 % (63 %) at the 1st
completed month, and 42 % (20 %) at the 4th completed month. Time of return to work was a major predictor for stopping breastfeeding:
the sooner the mothers returned to work, the less they breastfed their babies at 4 months of infant’s age, independently of
full-time or part-time employment. The association was stronger for almost exclusive breastfeeding mothers than for any breastfeeding
ones. In a society where breastfeeding is not the norm, women may have difficulties combining work and breastfeeding. Specific
actions need to be developed and assessed among mothers who return to work and among employers.
about the association with maternal full- and part-time employment and return to work in European countries. To study the
associations between breastfeeding, any and almost exclusive (infants receiving breast milk as their only milk) breastfeeding,
at 4 months of infant’s age and the socio-demographic and occupational characteristics of mothers. We used the EDEN mother–child
cohort, a prospective study of 2002 singleton pregnant women in two French university hospitals. We selected all mothers (n = 1,339)
who were breastfeeding at discharge from the maternity unit. Data on feeding practices were collected at the maternity unit
and by postal questionnaires at 4, 8 and 12 months after the birth. Among infants breastfed at discharge, 93 % were still
receiving any breastfeeding (83 % almost exclusive breastfeeding) at the 3rd completed week of life, 78 % (63 %) at the 1st
completed month, and 42 % (20 %) at the 4th completed month. Time of return to work was a major predictor for stopping breastfeeding:
the sooner the mothers returned to work, the less they breastfed their babies at 4 months of infant’s age, independently of
full-time or part-time employment. The association was stronger for almost exclusive breastfeeding mothers than for any breastfeeding
ones. In a society where breastfeeding is not the norm, women may have difficulties combining work and breastfeeding. Specific
actions need to be developed and assessed among mothers who return to work and among employers.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10995-012-1053-4
- Authors
- Mercedes Bonet, INSERM, UMR S953, Epidemiological Research Unit on Perinatal Health and Women’s and Childrens’ Health, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul, Batiment Lelong, 82 Avenue Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France
- Laetitia Marchand, INSERM, UMR S953, Epidemiological Research Unit on Perinatal Health and Women’s and Childrens’ Health, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul, Batiment Lelong, 82 Avenue Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France
- Monique Kaminski, INSERM, UMR S953, Epidemiological Research Unit on Perinatal Health and Women’s and Childrens’ Health, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul, Batiment Lelong, 82 Avenue Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France
- Anne Fohran, INSERM, UMR 1018, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, Lifelong Epidemiology of Diabetes, Obesity and Chronic Kidney Disease, 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant-Couturier, 94807 Villejuif Cedex, France
- Aisha Betoko, INSERM, UMR 1018, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, Lifelong Epidemiology of Diabetes, Obesity and Chronic Kidney Disease, 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant-Couturier, 94807 Villejuif Cedex, France
- Marie-Aline Charles, INSERM, UMR 1018, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, Lifelong Epidemiology of Diabetes, Obesity and Chronic Kidney Disease, 16 Avenue Paul Vaillant-Couturier, 94807 Villejuif Cedex, France
- Béatrice Blondel, INSERM, UMR S953, Epidemiological Research Unit on Perinatal Health and Women’s and Childrens’ Health, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul, Batiment Lelong, 82 Avenue Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France
- The “EDEN Mother–Child Cohort Study Group”
- Journal Maternal and Child Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-6628
- Print ISSN 1092-7875