Table 1.
Demographic, perinatal and breastfeeding characteristics of women and their infants included in the study
| Characteristic | Total (N = 477) | Non-overweight (n = 315) | Overweight (n = 162) | P value a |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % (n) or M ± SD | ||||
| Education (university degree) | 47 (224) | 52 (163) | 38 (61) | .003 |
| Age (years) | 30 ± 5 | 30 ± 5 | 30 ± 5 | .83 |
| Parity (> 1 child) | 42 (197) | 41 (128) | 43 (69) | .74 |
| Marital status (married/de facto) | 96 (457) | 96 (301) | 96 (156) | .70 |
| Country of birth (Australia) | 72 (341) | 68 (212) | 80 (129) | .005 |
| Health care card (yes) b | 15 (71) | 14 (44) | 17 (27) | .43 |
| Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [13] Score c | 6 ± 4 | 6 ± 4 | 6 ± 5 | .29 |
| Smoking status (non-smoker) d | 93 (444) | 94 (297) | 91 (147) | .19 |
| Infant gender (boy) | 52 (244) | 52 (164) | 50 (80) | .72 |
| Infant birth weight (g) | 3457 ± 520 | 3448 ± 450 | 3473 ± 637 | .66 |
| Gestational age (weeks) | 40 ± 1 | 40 ± 1 | 40 ± 1 | .94 |
| Vaginal delivery (including assisted) | 70 (333) | 76 (238) | 59 (95) | <.001 |
Non-overweight group: BMI < 25 kg/m2; Overweight group: BMI ≥25 kg/m2
aDifference (P value) for Pearson Chi-Square statistic (categorical variable) or Independent samples t-test (continuous variable)
bA health care card is issued by the Australian government to eligible people with low incomes. This card entitles the holder to health services and medicines at reduced cost
cSelf-reported at 4 months postpartum; score range from 0 to 30
dSelf-reported at 4 months postpartum