Attendance at Breast-Feeding Support Meetings: Relationship to Demographic Characteristics and Duration of Lactation in Women Planning Postpartum Employment

Abstract

The American Dietetic Association position statement on the promotion of breast-feeding emphasizes that lactation support is needed to encourage breast-feeding in the United States ( (1) Position of The American Dietetic Association: promotion of breast-feeding. J Am Diet Assoc. 1997; 97: 662-666 Google Scholar ). Lactation support encompasses 3 major areas: informational (eg, knowledge, guidance), emotional (eg, caring, reassurance), and tangible (eg, money, task-oriented assistance) ( (2) Matich J.R. Sims L.S. A comparison of social support variables between women who intend to breast or bottle feed. Sci Med. 1992; 34: 919-927 Google Scholar ). Health care professionals, including physicians, nurses, and dietitians, typically provide informational support ( (2) Matich J.R. Sims L.S. A comparison of social support variables between women who intend to breast or bottle feed. Sci Med. 1992; 34: 919-927 Google Scholar , (3) McNatt M.H. Freston M.S. Social support and lactation outcomes in postpartum women. J Hum Lact. 1992; 8: 73-77 Google Scholar , (4) Isabella P.H. Isabella R.A. Correlates of successful breastfeeding a study of social and personal factors. J Hum Lact. 1994; 10: 257-264 Google Scholar ). Friends are often cited as offering both emotional and informational support ( (2) Matich J.R. Sims L.S. A comparison of social support variables between women who intend to breast or bottle feed. Sci Med. 1992; 34: 919-927 Google Scholar , (4) Isabella P.H. Isabella R.A. Correlates of successful breastfeeding a study of social and personal factors. J Hum Lact. 1994; 10: 257-264 Google Scholar ). The baby's father and relatives are major providers of tangible and emotional support ( (2) Matich J.R. Sims L.S. A comparison of social support variables between women who intend to breast or bottle feed. Sci Med. 1992; 34: 919-927 Google Scholar , (4) Isabella P.H. Isabella R.A. Correlates of successful breastfeeding a study of social and personal factors. J Hum Lact. 1994; 10: 257-264 Google Scholar ). Some women expand their network by accessing dietetics professionals through pregnancy-related associations (eg, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; obstetric practices; and/or prenatal clinics) ( (1) Position of The American Dietetic Association: promotion of breast-feeding. J Am Diet Assoc. 1997; 97: 662-666 Google Scholar ). Although not frequently cited, another potential resource is a breast-feeding support group ( (2) Matich J.R. Sims L.S. A comparison of social support variables between women who intend to breast or bottle feed. Sci Med. 1992; 34: 919-927 Google Scholar , (5) Buckner E. Matsubara M. Support network utilization by breastfeeding mothers. J Hum Lact. 1993; 9: 231-235 Google Scholar ). These varied sources may influence not only a woman's decision to breast-feed, but also her feelings of success and satisfaction with the breastfeeding experience ( (2) Matich J.R. Sims L.S. A comparison of social support variables between women who intend to breast or bottle feed. Sci Med. 1992; 34: 919-927 Google Scholar , (3) McNatt M.H. Freston M.S. Social support and lactation outcomes in postpartum women. J Hum Lact. 1992; 8: 73-77 Google Scholar , (4) Isabella P.H. Isabella R.A. Correlates of successful breastfeeding a study of social and personal factors. J Hum Lact. 1994; 10: 257-264 Google Scholar , (6) Giugliani E.R.J. Caiaffa W.T. Vogelhut J. Witter F.R. Perman J.A. Effect of breastfeeding support from different sources on mothers’ decisions to breastfeed. J Hum Lact. 1994; 10: 157-161 Google Scholar ).