Social Status, Mother-Infant Time Together, And Breastfeeding Duration

Chart review and direct observation were used to study the relationship between social status, mother-infant time together, and breastfeeding duration among 138 mothers who were breastfeeding at hospital discharge. Overall breastfeeding rate was 73 percent for patients with private insurance and 37 percent for patients without private insurance. Breastfeeding duration to six months was not related to social status. Mother-infant time together from birth through 48 hours was 3 hours greater for private insurance mothers. These three hours, which were statistically significantly different, did not correlate with breastfeeding duration in any way. Ancillary findings were that married mothers were more likely than unmarried mothers to be breastfeeding at six months, and that mothers who received epidurals were less likely to be breastfeeding at six months than mothers who did not receive epidurals. © 1996 International Lactation Consultant Association