Maternal Work and Infant Feeding Practices in the First 6 Months

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between maternal work and infant feeding practices and explore the moderating impact of parental stress.MethodsProspective data on categorical hours worked and infant feeding practices were collected at 3 and 6 months postpartum in a prospective prenatal cohort of 95 women. Chi-square tests were used to compare change in proportion of exclusive breastfeeding from birth to 6 months and maternal work status.ResultsRates of exclusive breastfeeding significantly decreased from birth to 6 months, while the percent of mothers working outside of the home significantly increased from 3 to 6 months. At 6 months, mothers who worked full time pumped significantly more than their non-working counterparts. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to test the prediction of exclusive breastfeeding by maternal work, including sociodemographic covariates, and the moderating impact of parental stress. Results indicated that maternal education, paternal education, and maternal work significantly predicted exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months. Full time work (OR = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.62) was associated with a decreased odds of exclusive breastfeeding. Additionally, higher maternal (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.97) and paternal (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.00, 1.66) education was associated with an increased odds of exclusive breastfeeding. Maternal stress did not predict exclusive breastfeeding, nor did it have a moderating effect on the relationship between maternal work and breastfeeding.Conclusions for PracticeFuture studies should investigate maternal work in more diverse birthing populations to better understand how families can incorporate breastfeeding as a primary infant feeding practice. Maternal employment may be an impediment to exclusive breastfeeding. The majority of studies dichotomize employment, and far fewer measure number of hours worked per week. Findings of the current study add to the small literature on overtime work. Moreover, this study examines the practice of pumping breastmilk in relation to these work categories. Ultimately, our findings suggest that there is opportunity for future interventions to capitalize on breastfeeding education, policies to support both time for infant feeding at work or while working from home, and better options for pumping and storage of breastmilk in the workplace.