Abstract

PIP: Information of the extent of breast-feeding in Great Britain in 1946 , with special reference to the health and survival of children is provided from a 2nd maternity survey in 1948, of 4669 women, 2 years after the birth of their babies. The average mother in 1946 breast-fed her baby 4.2 plus or minus .06 months. Average duration of breast-feeding was the same for each birth order. There were only small social class differences in the maintenance of breast-feeding although in the 9th month the rate of weaning was significantly lower among babies in bad home conditions (p less than .05). The risk of conception was lower among women breast-feeding. Failure to establish lactation was more frequent in nursing homes but those confined there were more successful at maintaining it. Breast infections were more frequent after hospital confinements (7%) compared to home confinements (4.6%). Babies taken to welfare centers had higher weaning rate during the first 6 months of life. Differences between the mortality of bottle-fed and breast-fed infants were insignificant. However, serious infection of the gastrointestinal tract was more frequently seen among bottle-fed bab ies (primarily among babies of extreme birth weight), and babies were more likely to have mild attacks of diarrhea during the switch from breast to bottle. Bottle-fed babies were more liable to lower respirato ry diseases, bronchitis, and pneumonia during the first 9 months. Immunity to measles developed in babies breast-fed in the early months which lasted throughout the 2nd year. At 2 years of age bottle-fed babies tended to be slightly heavier than breast-fed babies and tended to walk at a later date.