Table 1.
Categorical-level sample characteristics and relationship with exclusive and any breast milk at two and eight weeks postpartum (n and proportions).
| Characteristic | Baseline | 2 Week Total | Breastfeeding Status at 2 weeks | 8 Week Total | Breastfeeding Status at 8 weeks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exclusive HM | Any HM | Exclusive HM | Any HM | ||||
| Totals | 61 (100) | 47 (100) | 26 (54) | 44 (94) | 41 (100) | 21 (51) | 33 (81) |
| Married | 41 (67) | 35 (75) | 21 (81) | 33 (75) | 31 (76) | 18 (86) | 27 (82) |
| Education | |||||||
| High school diploma | 10 (16) | 5 (11) | 2 (8) | 5 (11) | 5 (12) | 2 (10) | 4 (12) |
| Some college or vocational program | 14 (23) | 10 (21) | 6 (23) | 10 (23) | 8 (20) | 3 (14) | 5 (15) |
| Bachelor’s degree | 20 (33) | 17 (35) | 8 (31) | 15 (34) | 15 (37) | 9 (43) | 12 (36) |
| Post-graduate degree | 17 (28) | 15 (32) | 10 (39) | 14 (32) | 13 (32) | 7 (33) | 12 (36) |
| Race | |||||||
| White/Caucasian | 45 (74) | 35 (75) | 20 (77) | 33 (75) | 31 (76) | 16 (76) | 27 (82) |
| Black/African American | 9 (15) | 6 (13) | 4 (15) | 6 (14) | 5 (12) | 2 (10) | 3 (9) |
| Other | 7 (11) | 6 (13) | 2 (8) | 5 (11) | 5 (12) | 3 (14) | 3 (9) |
| WIC recipient | 17 (28) | 11 (23) | 5 (19) | 11 (25) | 10 (24) | 4 (19) | 7 (21) |
| Current or recent smoker* | 9 (15) | 4 (9) | 1 (4) | 3 (6) | 4 (10) | 1 (5) | 3 (9) |
| Prenatal Care Provider(s) | |||||||
| Physician | 58 (95) | 45 (96) | 24 (92) | 42 (95) | 40 (98) | 20 (95) | 32 (97) |
| Midwife | 9 (15) | 8 (17) | 6 (23) | 7 (16) | 6 (15) | 3 (14) | 5 (15) |
| NP or PA | 10 (16) | 7 (15) | 3 (12) | 5 (11) | 7 (17) | 2 (10) | 5 (15) |
| Planned return to work** | |||||||
| No return or uncertain | 12 (20) | 8 (17) | 3 (12) | 8 (18) | 7 (17) | 4 (19) | 6 (18) |
| 5–8 weeks | 13 (21) | 9 (19) | 3 (12) | 6 (14) | 8 (20) | 1 (5) | 2 (6) |
| 9–12 weeks | 27 (44) | 22 (47) | 15 (58) | 22 (50) | 21 (51) | 13 (62) | 20 (61) |
| 13 weeks–1 year | 9 (15) | 8 (17) | 5 (19) | 8 (18) | 5 (12) | 3 (14) | 5 (15) |
| Planned duration of any bf | |||||||
| Unsure | 7 (12) | 3 (6) | 2 (8) | 3 (7) | 2 (5) | 1 (5) | 2 (6) |
| ≤ 6 months | 18 (30) | 13 (28) | 6 (23) | 12 (27) | 11 (27) | 3 (14) | 8 (24) |
| >6 months | 36 (59) | 31 (66) | 18 (69) | 29 (66) | 28 (68) | 17 (81) | 23 (70) |
| Planned duration of exclusive bf (n=60) | |||||||
| Unsure | 14 (23) | 7 (15) | 2 (8) | 7 (16) | 6 (15) | 3 (14) | 6 (18) |
| < 6 months | 8 (13) | 7 (15) | 4 (15) | 7 (16) | 7 (17) | 2 (10) | 5 (15) |
| ≥ 6 months | 38 (63) | 33 (70) | 20 (77) | 30 (68) | 28 (68) | 16 (76) | 22 (67) |
| Formula use in hospital | 23 (38) | 15 (32) | 5 (19) | 12 (27) | 13 (32) | 5 (24) | 9 (27) |
| First bf ≤ 1 hour after delivery | 30 (49) | 24 (51) | 14 (54) | 22 (50) | 23 (56) | 12 (57) | 17 (52) |
| Lactation consult in hospital | 48 (79) | 40 (85) | 21 (81) | 37 (84) | 34 (83) | 17 (81) | 27 (82) |
| Delivery method | |||||||
| Vaginal | 42 (69) | 30 (64) | 17 (65) | 28 (64) | 29 (71) | 15 (71) | 22 (67) |
| Cesarean section | 19 (31) | 17 (36) | 9 (35) | 16 (36) | 12 (29) | 6 (29) | 11 (33) |
| Vacuum or forceps use | 5 (8) | 4 (9) | 4 (15) | 4 (9) | 4 (10) | 3 (14) | 4 (12) |
| Male infant | 39 (64) | 31 (66) | 17 (65) | 29 (66) | 27 (66) | 13 (62) | 22 (67) |
Smoked during pregnancy or in 12 months prior to pregnancy;
No participants planned to return to work prior to 5 weeks postpartum
HM=human milk; bf=breastfeeding; NP=nurse practitioner; PA=physician’s assistant; WIC= WIC=Women, Infants, and Children Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
Note: While 48 women completed a two-week interview and provided self-report data on breastfeeding events in the hospital and after hospital discharge, one two-week interview was completed at four weeks due to difficulty establishing contact. Breastfeeding problems and behaviors for that participant are included in Week 4, rather than Week 2.