Table 1.
Reasons for early cessation
| Reasons for early cessation | Strong n (%) |
Moderate n (%) |
Slight n (%) |
None n (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insufficient quantity of milk | 24 (57.1) | 8 (19.0) | 5 (11.9) | 5 (11.9) |
| Too little weight gain by the baby | 14 (32.6) | 4 (9.3) | 8 (18.6) | 17 (39.5) |
| Baby weaned itself | 12 (27.9) | 5 (11.6) | 8 (18.6) | 18 (41.9) |
| Puerperal mastitis, pain, nipple cracks | 9 (21.4) | 8 (19.0) | 8 (19.0) | 17 (40.5) |
| Preference for feeding baby food in public | 6 (14.3) | 4 (9.5) | 6 (14.3) | 26 (61.9) |
| Start of feeding complementary food was a good point to stop breastfeeding | 3 (7.1) | 8 (19.0) | 5 (11.9) | 26 (61.9) |
| Lack of options for breastfeeding in public | 3 (7.1) | 4 (9.5) | 5 (11.9) | 30 (71.4) |
| Partner/friends/family should be able to feed the baby, too | 2 (4.8) | 4 (9.5) | 12 (28.6) | 24 (57.1) |
| Desire for greater freedom | 1 (2.4) | 4 (9.5) | 11 (26.2) | 26 (61.9) |
| Breastfeeding is too complicated | 1 (2.4) | 3 (7.3) | 11 (26.8) | 26 (63.4) |
| Breastfeeding took too much time | 0 (0.0) | 5 (11.9) | 10 (23.8) | 27 (64.3) |
| Breastfeeding reduced sexual desire | 2 (4.8) | 3 (7.1) | 5 (11.9) | 32 (76.2) |
| Desire to get more sleep again | 1 (2.4) | 2 (4.8) | 6 (14.3) | 33 (78.6) |
| Partner/friends/family recommended stopping breastfeeding | 0 (0.0) | 3 (7.1) | 4 (9.5) | 35 (83.3) |
| Worries about changes in the shape of the breast | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.4) | 4 (9.5) | 37 (88.1) |
| Baby’s teething | 1 (2.4) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (4.8) | 39 (92.9) |
| Getting back to work | 1 (2.4) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.4) | 40 (95.2) |
| Abstaining from alcohol/cigarettes | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (4.9) | 39 (95.1) |
Women who had already stopped breastfeeding their baby at the time of answering the third questionnaire, i.e. at least six months after delivery, were asked to what extent the above factors had influenced their decision. Absolute (n) and relative frequencies (%) are provided for nominal and ordinal variables. It should be noted that valid observations are used to calculate percentage values