I am so excited that these nursing students are asking questions about
breastfeeding!

Health Canada - Breastfeeding Facts
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpb/lcdc/brch/factshts/brstfd_e.html

Breastfeeding Duration
Table 2 presents the proportion of mothers who breastfed for less than three
months by selected demographic characteristics of mothers. About 40% of
mothers who breastfed reported doing so for less than three months. In 1982,
17% and 41% of mothers who breastfed stopped at two and four months
respectively.8
In light of the recommendations by the CPS/DC/HC and WHO/UNICEF, infants who
are breastfed for less than four months can be considered to have been
weaned prematurely. Consistent with the patterns in breastfeeding
initiation, infants were more likely to be weaned prematurely if their
mothers were young, single or had lower levels of income and education.
Women in central and eastern Canada weaned their children at younger ages
than women in western Canada. Duration of breastfeeding among immigrants and
non-immigrants differed in the two surveys. NPHS data suggested that
immigrants weaned earlier than non-immigrants; NLSCY data showed no
significant difference.
**** The most common reason for discontinuing breastfeeding was perceived
insufficient milk, cited by 37% of women who breastfed for less than three
months (NPHS), 41% of women who breastfed for less than five weeks (NLSCY)
and 50% of women who breastfed for five to twelve weeks (NLSCY). Among women
who breastfed longer than three months, the two most common reasons for
stopping were returning to work (52-57%) and/or a previous decision to stop
at that time (41-48%).*****

----- Original Message -----
From: "Cindy Brigande" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 7:46 PM
Subject: early termination


...many mothers at our WIC office began to
> terminate breastfeeding before their infants were 4 months of age. ....
Ertem, Votto, & Leventhal (2001) examined
> the early discontinuation of breastfeeding by mothers eligible for WIC
> in Connecticut. They state that knowledge of when and why women
> discontinue breastfeeding is crucial to guide interventions aimed at
> increasing both the initiation and duration of breastfeeding. ...I'm
wondering what you see in practice as a factor in
> this problem and what interventions you use to increase breastfeeding
> duration?
> Thank you,
> Cindy Brigande
> Nursing Student, University of North Dakota

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