Met Expectations and Satisfaction with Duration

Abstract

Background:

Breastfeeding expectations predict breastfeeding duration. The extent to which expectations for duration are met remains unknown.

Objectives:

To evaluate prospective measures of expected breastfeeding duration, changes in expectations over time, and factors associated with meeting expectations.

Methods:

The Infant Feeding Practices Study II followed women from late pregnancy to 1 year postpartum. Expected breastfeeding duration was assessed 5 times. Logistic regression identified factors associated with met prenatal expectations. Subgroup analysis compared met prenatal expectations to satisfaction with breastfeeding duration.

Results:

One-year postpartum, 34.7% of 1802 participants had met prenatal expected breastfeeding duration, and 23.9% were still breastfeeding. Fifty-eight percent of women met expectations stated at 7 months postpartum. Modifiable risk factors associated with meeting prenatal expectations included early regular breast pump use (odds ratio [OR], 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-2.07). Return to work was negatively associated with met expectations (return by 6 weeks postpartum: OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.33-0.71; later return: OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.56-0.95). Among those who reported on satisfaction with duration (n = 1226), 40.4% were satisfied. Satisfaction was associated with meeting expectations (OR, 10.56; 95% CI, 7.67-14.55), but expectation and satisfaction measures were not equivalent. Elevated body mass index and depressive symptoms at 2 months postpartum were negatively associated with both measures.

Conclusion:

Most participants did not meet prenatal or postnatal expectations for breastfeeding duration and were unsatisfied with duration. However, at 12 months, more participants felt they had met their expectations and were satisfied with their breastfeeding duration than were actually breastfeeding. Therefore, women may perceive greater breastfeeding progress than suggested by Healthy People 2020 benchmarks.