Augustin Amy L, Donovan Kathleen, Lozano Emily A, Massucci Diane J, Wohlgemuth Fran
Amy L. Augustin is Clinician IV Staff Nurse at Reston Hospital Center, Reston, VA. She can be reached via e-mail at
MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2014 Jan-Feb;39(1):50-5. doi: 10.1097/01.NMC.0000437534.99514.dc.
To learn about the duration of breastfeeding and to describe the variables influencing breastfeeding practices of mothers who gave birth at a suburban community hospital.
An Institutional Review Board approved this descriptive anonymous survey with 20 questions concerning patients' characteristics and experiences with breastfeeding, which was developed based on current literature. The survey was distributed to mothers through Survey Monkey via email 6 months after birth.
The survey link was sent to 806 mothers, with a response rate of 50%. Over 59% were still breastfeeding at 6 months. Mothers who initiated skin-to-skin contact in the first hour had a higher rate of breastfeeding during this time frame compared to mothers who did not perform skin-to-skin contact. Women who had cesarean births and women who were primiparas reported a higher use of formula while in the hospital, and breastfed for a shorter duration. The primary reasons for stopping breastfeeding were low milk supply, returned to work, and baby did not latch and nurse well.
This study adds to the knowledge base of what practices influence rates and duration of breastfeeding in the first 6 months of a baby's life. The information could enhance the care provided to mothers and babies through improving lactation programs and thereby increasing breastfeeding success rates.
了解母乳喂养的持续时间，并描述影响在郊区社区医院分娩的母亲母乳喂养行为的变量。
机构审查委员会批准了这项描述性匿名调查，该调查有20个关于患者特征和母乳喂养经历的问题，是根据当前文献制定的。调查在产后6个月通过Survey Monkey以电子邮件的形式分发给母亲们。
调查链接发送给了806名母亲，回复率为50%。超过59%的母亲在6个月时仍在进行母乳喂养。在出生后第一小时内进行皮肤接触的母亲在这段时间内的母乳喂养率高于未进行皮肤接触的母亲。剖宫产的女性和初产妇在住院期间报告使用配方奶的比例较高，且母乳喂养的持续时间较短。停止母乳喂养的主要原因是乳汁供应不足、重返工作岗位以及婴儿无法很好地含接和吸吮。
本研究增加了关于哪些行为会影响婴儿出生后前6个月母乳喂养率和持续时间的知识库。这些信息可以通过改善哺乳计划来加强对母婴的护理，从而提高母乳喂养成功率。
