Prenatal lactation advice and intention to breastfeed: selected maternal characteristics.

This study uses data from the NICHD/MMIHS to examine the relationship among maternal characteristics and (a) whether mothers were asked by their prenatal providers to consider breastfeeding and (b) mothers' prenatal plans on how to feed their infants. Only 37% of the study population reported that their providers advised them to consider breastfeeding. Proportions of women who received prenatal advice to breastfeed and who intended to breastfeed were higher among married, Caucasian non-Hispanic, primiparous mothers, and women who were not enrolled in WIC. Women who received advice to breastfeed had significantly higher rates of planning to breastfeed (61.1%) than women who did not receive this advice (34.7%; p < 0.005). Efforts to meet the DHHS Healthy People 2000 objective for 75% of women to breastfeed in the early postpartum period will require a concentrated effort by prenatal providers to help women overcome their resistance to breastfeeding by offering support and encouragement.