Hi, my name is Heather Fagerland and I am a junior in the nursing program
and the University of North Dakota.  Over the past month or so, you have
been discussing the positive outcomes and the negative protrayal of
breast feeding in the show, Chicage Hope.  This started me thinking.  And
my question that i have for you draws from everyone's real life
experiences.  My question is this, "As we have watched the adolescent
pregnancy rate increase and also the breast feeding awareness/education
increase, what has this done to the adolescent breast feeding rates?  Are
more teenage mothers choosing to breast feed or are more opting for the
other option?"

Going through the literature, I have found limited studies done on this
specific subject.  One study I did find compared adolescent mothers (14-18
years old) and adult mothers (23-33 years old) and their decision to
breast feed.  This study was done in 1993, and the researchers found that
adolescent mothers were less likely to breast feed than their adult
counterpart (Maehr et al,. 1993).  The other two studies that I looked at
Benson, S. (1996), and Robinson, J.B. et al,. (1993) seemed to say the
same thing also.

So, I am wondering, what have you seen in your clinical practice?  I am
anxious to draw upon your experience and knowledge on what you have seen!
:)

Thank you in advance for all your help and information!
You can e-mail me at [log in to unmask]


Benson, S (1996).  "Adolescent Mother's Experience of Parenting and Breast
 Feeding--a descriptive study."  Breast Feeding Review, May; 4(1):
 19-27.

Maehr, J.C., Lizarraga, J.L., Wingard, D.L., & Felice, M.GE. (1993).  "A
 Comparative Study of Adolescent and Adult Mothers Who Intend to
 Breast Feed."  Journal of Adolescent Health, Sept; 14(6): 453-7.

Robinson, J.B., Hunt, A.E., Pope, J. & Garner, B. (1993).  "Attitudes
 Toward Infant Feeding Among Adolescent Mothers from a WIC
 Population in Northern Louisiana...women, infant, and children."
 Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Nov;93(11): 1311-3.