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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2013 Nov 28;104(4):e351–e356. doi: 10.17269/cjph.104.3803

Breastfeeding Difficulties and Exclusivity Among Late Preterm and Term Infants: Results From the All Our Babies Study

Tharsiya Nagulesapillai 115, Sheila W McDonald 215, Tanis R Fenton 115,315, Hannah Faye G Mercader 215, Suzanne C Tough 115,215,✉
PMCID: PMC6973566  PMID: 24044478

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare breastfeeding difficulties attributable to the baby and mother/milk and exclusive breastfeeding between a group of late preterm (LP) infants and term infants.

METHODS: We utilized data from a prospective community-based cohort (n=2977) in Calgary, Alberta, and performed bivariate and multivariable analyses to identify demographic, obstetric, maternal and infant health indicators that were independently associated with term status and breastfeeding outcomes.

RESULTS: Multivariable analyses found that LP status was an independent risk factor for breastfeeding difficulties attributable to the baby (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.24–2.38), but not for difficulties due to mother/milk (defined as not producing enough milk or having flat or inverted nipples). Among women who were breastfeeding at hospital discharge, mothers of LP infants were less likely to report exclusive breastfeeding at 4 months (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.46–0.97), after controlling for household income level, mode of delivery and postpartum maternal physical health.

CONCLUSIONS: Mothers of LP infants need increased support to establish successful breastfeeding outcomes and to ensure that these infants receive the full benefits of breast milk.

Key Words: Breastfeeding, infant, preterm, epidemiology

Footnotes

Acknowledgements: We are grateful to all the families who took part in this study. Our thanks to the investigators, co-ordinators, research assistants, graduate and undergraduate students, volunteers, clerical staff and managers of the All Our Babies Study team. Alberta Innovates Health Solutions provided funding for this cohort; additional funding from the Alberta Centre for Child, Family, and Community Research assisted with the analysis of data presented in this paper. The University of Calgary provided trainee salary support. Preterm Birth and Healthy Outcomes (PreHOT) Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Interdisciplinary Team Grant #200700595.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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