Table 6.
Significant Differences in Postpartum Symptoms by Women’s Breastfeeding Status
| Postpartum Symptoms | Breastfeeding No. (%) (n = 480) | Not Breastfeeding No. (%) (n = 236) | P Value of t Test or χ2 |
| Continuous variables* | |||
| Mean number of total symptoms | 6.6 | 5.1 | <.001 |
| Mean number of nonbreastfeeding symptoms | 5.2 | 4.5 | .003 |
| Discrete variables† | |||
| One or more breast symptoms (discomfort, nipple soreness, infection) | 377 (78.0) | 115 (48.7) | <.001 |
| Fatigue | 323 (67.3) | 134 (56.8) | .006 |
| Decreased desire for sex | 284 (59.2) | 91 (38.6) | <.001 |
| Back or neck pain | 223 (46.5) | 87 (36.9) | .015 |
| Constipation | 152 (31.7) | 44 (18.6) | <.001 |
| Hemorrhoids | 134 (27.9) | 35 (14.8) | <.001 |
| Excessive sweating | 126 (26.3) | 39 (16.5) | .004 |
| Hot flashes | 67 (14.0) | 18 (7.6) | .008 |
| Decreased appetite | 136 (28.3) | 88 (37.3) | .020 |
| Runny/stuffy nose | 115 (24.0) | 74 (31.4) | .040 |
* The mean difference in total symptoms and nonbreastfeeding symptoms (ie, all symptoms except breast discomfort, nipple soreness, and breast infection) by breastfeeding status was evaluated by t test.
† The difference in the frequency of women reporting any symptom by breastfeeding status was evaluated by χ2 test.