The purpose of this study was to measure post-weaning feelings i n women planning employment within one year post-partum and to examine the effects of factors related to duration and employment on these feelings. Subjects were recruited from obstetric clinics and prenatal classes throughout Indiana. Fifty-three women were interviewed prenatally and at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-partum (or until weaning occurred in those who breastfed less than 6 months). Those women who weaned their infants during the study period were asked to describe their reasons for cessation and to quantify their feelings of sadness/ depression, madness /anger, relief, and guilt using Likert-type scales. The majority of subjects were Caucasian, had attended college, and were 26 years of age or older. No significant relationship existed between duration of lactation and age or education. Thirty-one women had weaned their infants by 6 months, 20 due to mother-led reasons, 9 due to baby-led reasons, and 2 due to other reasons. The most common reasons given for weaning were "baby won't suck" (6) and "returning to work" (6). No significant differences (p>.05) in feelings were found between women who weaned due to mother-related and baby-related reasons or between women who met or did not meet their breastfeeding goals. Women who did not feed their babies as planned when returning to work felt significantly more sadness/depression (p=.03) and guilt (p=.004) compared to those who fed their infants as planned. The results of this study suggest breastfeeding is not only a physiological vehicle for infant nutrition, but also an emotional phenomena. Understanding a woman's emotional response to the weaning process will assist health care professionals in providing perinatal education and support to the breastfeeding woman. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/186002 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Montgomery, Paula Kay |
| Contributors | Ball State University. Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences., Chezem, Jo Carol |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | vii, 75 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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