Breast-feeding linked to additional healthy maternal behaviors
Source: Family Practice 2003; 20: 528-30
http://www.orgyn.com/news/2003/Week_40/Day_2/Breast-feeding_linke.asp
Assessing whether the intention to breast-feed is associated with
other positive health-related behaviors and beliefs during pregnancy.
Women who breast-feed are less likely to smoke and more likely to be
taking recommended nutritional supplements than those with
alternative feeding plans, UK researchers reveal.
To evaluate whether women who breast-feed adopt other healthy
behaviors during their pregnancy, Cheryl Haslam (University of
Nottingham) and co-authors performed a cross-sectional survey of 789
women attending antenatal clinics. The questionnaire explored feeding
intentions, use of folic acid, vitamin and iron supplementation,
smoking status, the intention to stop smoking, and perceptions
regarding control of the health of the unborn baby.
In comparison with women who were planning alternative feeding
methods, women who were preparing to breast-feed (either exclusively
or in combination with bottle-feeding) were more likely to have
increased their intake of folic acid, taken vitamin and iron
supplements, and to believe that they have control over the health of
their unborn baby. Moreover, women intending to breast-feed were less
likely to smoke, or more likely to be preparing to quit smoking
during their pregnancy, than those women with different feeding ideas.
"In addition to educating pregnant smokers about the risks of
maternal smoking, primary health care practitioners could also
usefully address their knowledge, health beliefs, and feeding
intentions during antenatal care," the researchers propose.
Posted 30 September 2003
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