Association Between Length of Exclusive Breastfeeding and Subsequent Breastfeeding Continuation

Background: Although breastfeeding initiation rates have improved, later prevalence is very low in the United Kingdom, and Northeast England is the region with the lowest rates.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate novel in addition to well-established risk factors for cessation of breastfeeding among women in this region.

Methods: Participants were 870 women considering breastfeeding prior to birth who were enrolled in the postnatal ward North East Cot trial at a tertiary hospital in Northeast England from 2008 to 2010. They provided weekly data on feeding and sleeping practices for 26 weeks postpartum using an automated telephone system with reminder postcards and contact by telephone, letter, or email if necessary. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to investigate factors associated with terminating any and exclusive breastfeeding in this period.

Results: Ninety-four percent of women started any breastfeeding and 66% initiated exclusive breastfeeding. By 26 weeks postpartum, 47% were still breastfeeding, but < 1% were breastfeeding exclusively. Multivariate analysis showed that women who exclusively breastfed for at least 4 weeks breastfed for significantly longer after supplementation started (P < .001). Bed-sharing at home during the first 13 weeks was a significant predictor of both any and exclusive breastfeeding, as well as any breastfeeding after supplementation (P < .001). We also confirmed some recognized socio-demographic predictors of breastfeeding cessation in this location.

Conclusion: We found that exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4 weeks was significantly associated with longer breastfeeding continuation after supplementation, and bed-sharing at home was associated with longer breastfeeding regardless of the definition used.