The effects of maternal weight perceptions and concerns, depression and smoking on infant feeding practices

Health behaviors of mothers during the postpartum period are as important as health behaviors during pregnancy. Understanding the health behaviors of mothers during the postpartum period is very important in understanding how they take care of themselves and their infants. The aim of the study was to assess mothers’ weight perceptions and concerns, smoking and depression on infant feeding practices during the postpartum period. The study used secondary data collected from the “Food consumption and oral health by the use of day care among WIC children” study. The “Food consumption and oral health by the use of day care among WIC children” study was a prospective study which took place at a supplementary women infant and children (WIC) office in Champaign Urbana Public Health Department in Illinois. Participants recruited for the study were mother-infant dyads who were already enrolled in WIC. We used the baseline data for this study. Self-administered survey responses from 103 mothers were analyzed using spss version 20. The study had a response rate of 38.5%. The study results showed that, the mean age of child and mother enrolled in the study were 4.1 months with a standard deviation of 1.7 and 25.6 years with a standard deviation of 5.4 respectively. The breastfeeding initiation rate for mothers enrolled in the study was 77.7%. The mean age (months) of child when formula and solid food was introduced was 1.2 with a standard deviation of 1.4 and 4.4 with a standard deviation of 1.0 respectively. The mean age of child when breastfeeding stopped was 2.2 months with a standard deviation of 1.4. Among mothers who initiated breastfeeding, 10 representing 12.5% smoked during pregnancy. Sixteen mothers who smoked during postpartum did initiate breastfeeding. Among mothers’ who were diagnosed with postpartum depression, only one practiced exclusive breastfeeding for at least 3 months. Mothers who identified as White, 11 representing 47.8% breastfed their babies for more than 3 months and among mothers who identified as Black or African American, 5 representing 21.7% breastfed their babies for at least 3 months. Of the mothers who smoked during the postpartum period, 13 of them had introduced solids to their infants who were 4 months and older. Seventy-six of the mothers enrolled in the study representing 73.8% said they were unconcerned about their child becoming overweight. However, 80 (77.7%) of the mothers said they were responsible for maintaining their child’s weight. Forty-six mothers representing 44.7% said they were overweight and 68 (66.6%) said they were not satisfied with their current weight. Using logistic regression, the study found a significant association between postpartum smoking and breastfeeding initiation. However, there was no association between postpartum smoking and exclusive breastfeeding at least 3 months, as well as no association with any breastfeeding at least 3 months. There was also no association between smoking during pregnancy and postpartum depression on infant feeding practices. The study showed no association between child’s weight concerns on breastfeeding initiation, exclusive breastfeeding at least 3 months, any breastfeeding at least 3 months and introduction of solids at age 4 months and older. This study has shown that postpartum smoking has an effect on breastfeeding initiation