Breastfeeding Continuation at One Month Postpartum Among Women in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Who Initiated Breastfeeding: Prevalence and Determinants.

OBJECTIVE

To describe breastfeeding behaviors and determinants in the 1-month postdelivery period among women in treatment for opioid use disorder.

STUDY DESIGN

Participants completed one questionnaire during pregnancy and one questionnaire at 1 month postpartum. Those who reported on the postpartum questionnaire that they had initiated breastfeeding were included in this analysis ( = 31). Infant feeding practices, receipt of lactation support, and demographic, psychosocial, and infant birth characteristics were compared between those who breastfed for at least 1 month and those who did not.

RESULTS

In all, 45% of the participants were breastfeeding at 1 month post delivery. Among those who discontinued breastfeeding by 1 month post delivery, two-thirds reported that they had not breastfed for as long as they wanted. Breastfeeding continuation at 1 month was more common in participants who expressed prenatal breastfeeding intention, had shorter infant hospital length of stays, received lactation materials/support, and reported lower stress and depressive symptoms. Among those who stopped breastfeeding at 1 month, perception of low breast milk supply was the most frequently cited reason.

CONCLUSIONS

Lactation support programs are needed to help women with opioid use disorder meet their infant feeding goals. Such programs may want to consider simultaneously addressing maternal psychosocial factors.