Why women stop breastfeeding: A mixed-methods analysis

This study explores the reasons why women stop breastfeeding. Analyses are based on data from the Lactational Effects of Contraceptive Hormones, an Evaluation study (LECHE), a survey of women with infants between the ages of 3 and 9 months who have breastfeed their infant at any time. Findings use two quantitative questions and the content analysis of responses to one open-ended survey question about reasons that were important in mothers’ decisions to stop breastfeeding. Based on the averaged values of the quantitative data, “I didn’t have enough milk,” “breast milk alone did not satisfy my baby,” “my baby had trouble sucking or latching on,” and “I thought that my baby was not gaining enough weight” all played important roles in women’s decisions to stop breastfeeding. In the qualitative “other” responses as to why they stopped breastfeeding, many women expressed a complicated interplay of factors leading to that decision. The maternal breastfeeding experience, and the mother’s physical and mental health, infant’s reaction to breastfeeding, and time, work, other children, partner support, and other breastfeeding supports often intersected in a variety of ways to influence a mother’s decision to stop breastfeeding. These analyses make it clear that no one solution will improve breastfeeding experiences and increase duration for all women, but that breastfeeding support should be tailored to the unique experience of each mother-child dyad. Furthermore, it seems evident that, without optimal support, breastfeeding can be an emotional and challenging experience for mothers, made worse by internal and external pressures to succeed.Master of Science in Public Healt