Breastfeeding self efficacy during early postpartum, its association with the women’s reception of breastfeeding and weaning information and their practice at six months

Methods: 67 hospitalized postpartum women answered the Breastfeeding Self‐efficacy Scale and questionnaire about breastfeeding (bf) establishment and information received at hospital; at 6 mo. a questionnaire about information received, bf and weaning. The median of the self‐efficacy score was the cut‐off: low self‐efficacy score (LSES) ≤134 and high self‐efficacy score (HSES) ≥ 135. Results: 37 women (55.2%) had LSES. All received information on bf during their stay. 72.2% LSES felt prepared to breastfeed at home vs. 96.7% HSES (p=0.008); 25% opposed to 50% would not know what to do if they had a problem with bf (p=0.03). At 6 mo. postpartum, 65% of all women had received information on infant feeding. Bf: 26 (38.8%) had stopped, LSES (n=17) at mean 10.1±6 and HSES (n=9) at 17.5±9 weeks postpartum (p=0.02), 41 (61.2%) were still lactating. Other practices: 11 (29.7%) LSES opposed to 3 (10%) HSES gave their baby a pacifier (p=0.04) and 21 (56.8%) vs. 9 (30%) (p=0.02) offered beef and chicken, despite the recommendation to delay its introduction till 7 th or 8 th mo. Conclusion: LSES women were less receptive for the information, abandoned bf earlier, used pacifier more often and introduced beef and chicken earlier.