Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Jul 30;24(1):514.
doi: 10.1186/s12884-024-06711-9.

Perinatal maternal factors influencing postpartum feeding practices at six weeks

Yanchi Wang #  1   2 , Kai Mao #  2 , Minjie Chu  3 , Xiaopeng Lu  4
Affiliations

Perinatal maternal factors influencing postpartum feeding practices at six weeks

Yanchi Wang et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. .

Abstract

Objective: Despite the World Health Organization's recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for the initial 6 months, breastfeeding rates decline within the first 6 weeks after delivery. This study aimed to (1) investigate the breastfeeding rate at 6 weeks postpartum and (2) explore the influence of perinatal factors on feeding patterns at 6 weeks postpartum.

Method: A total of 635 participants were enrolled from February to August 2023 at outpatient clinics in three tertiary hospitals in Nantong City. Variables were collected through questionnaires during the third trimester of pregnancy, including demographic information, pregnancy stress, anxiety, depression, sleep, and resilience. At 6 weeks postpartum, information regarding feeding patterns, delivery and postpartum situations, postpartum stress, anxiety, depression, sleep, and resilience was gathered. Initial single-factor analyses were conducted using feeding pattern as the dependent variable, and variables with significance were chosen as independent variables. The disordered multi-classification logistic regression model was then established using the stepwise forward method.

Results: Within the first 6 weeks, 35.28% (224/635) of postpartum women exclusively breastfed their infants. Factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding and formula feeding at 6 weeks postpartum included breast pain, sleep quality, mental resilience, difference between postpartum and late pregnancy anxiety, insufficient milk supply, and maternal herself caring for the infant (P < 0.05). Factors influencing the transition from exclusive to partial breastfeeding were insufficient milk supply and maternal herself caring for the infant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The study reveals a relative low rate of exclusive breastfeeding in China's first 6 weeks postpartum, along with a comparison of perinatal factors affecting three different feeding patterns. Our findings may contribute additional evidence to the association between perinatal factors and feeding patterns. This study guides healthcare professionals in developing strategies to promote exclusive breastfeeding and improve personalized counseling for exclusive breastfeeding and mental health.

Keywords: Anxiety; Breastfeeding; Perinatal; Postpartum stress; Resilience; Sleep quality.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mean value of anxiety difference across feeding patterns
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Victora CG, Bahl R, Barros AJ, Franca GV, Horton S, Krasevec J, Murch S, Sankar MJ, Walker N, Rollins NC, et al. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet. 2016;387(10017):475–90. 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01024-7 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Rollins NC, Bhandari N, Hajeebhoy N, Horton S, Lutter CK, Martines JC, Piwoz EG, Richter LM, Victora CG. Lancet Breastfeeding Series G: why invest, and what it will take to improve breastfeeding practices? Lancet. 2016;387(10017):491–504. 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01044-2 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bergamini M, Simeone G, Verga MC, Doria M, Cuomo B, D’Antonio G, Dello Iacono I, Di Mauro G, Leonardi L, Miniello VL et al. Complementary feeding caregivers’ practices and growth, risk of overweight/obesity, and other non-communicable diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients 2022, 14(13). - PMC - PubMed
    1. Shi H, Yang Y, Yin X, Li J, Fang J, Wang X. Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months in China: a cross-sectional study. Int Breastfeed J. 2021;16(1):40. 10.1186/s13006-021-00388-y - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wu Y, Wang Y, Hu J, Dang Y, Zhang Y, Qi X, Tian Q, Wang A, Li Y. Breastfeeding competency scale (BCS); development and validation of an evaluation instrument on breastfeeding competency in third trimester pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021;21(1):179. 10.1186/s12884-021-03664-1 - DOI - PMC - PubMed