PEDIATRICS Vol. 83 No. 4 April 1989, pp. 524-531
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ryan, A. S.
Right arrow Articles by Martinez, G. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Ryan, A. S.
Right arrow Articles by Martinez, G. A.

Breast-Feeding and the Working Mother: A Profile

Alan S. Ryan PhD1 and Gilbert A. Martinez 1

1 Ross Laboratories, Columbus, Ohio

Based on a survey of a nationally representative sample of new mothers, this study compares the incidence and duration of breast-feeding among mothers who were employed full-time outside the home with those not employed. Results indicated that the same proportion of mothers (55%) who were employed full-time as those not employed reported breast-feeding their infants in the hospital. Working full-time seemed to have a substantial impact on breast-feeding duration. Only 10% of full-time employed mothers breast-fed their infants at 6 months of age compared with 24% of those not employed. Analyses of breast-feeding by demographic characteristics indicated that in-hospital breast-feeding was relatively high among mothers who were not working outside the home and who were 30 years of age and older, in high family income groups, college educated, white, and living in the Mountain or Pacific region of the United States. Breast-feeding patterns among white and black mothers showed that a relatively high incidence of in-hospital breast-feeding was reported by black mothers who returned to work full time. Many more blacks than whites who were working full time were in those demographic subgroups that reported the highest incidence of breast-feeding: mothers who were 25 years of age and older, in highincome groups, and college educated. Ways to increase the level of breast-feeding among employed mothers are outlined.

Key Words: breast-feeding • employed mothers breast-feeding incidence

Submitted on March 14, 1988
Accepted on May 9, 1988




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Hum LactHome page
M. Flores, M. R. Pasquel, I. Maulen, and J. Rivera
Exclusive Breastfeeding in 3 Rural Localities in Mexico
J Hum Lact, August 1, 2005; 21(3): 276 - 283.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur J Public HealthHome page
G. Ong, M. Yap, F. L. Li, and T. B. Choo
Impact of working status on breastfeeding in Singapore: Evidence from the National Breastfeeding Survey 2001
Eur J Public Health, August 1, 2005; 15(4): 424 - 430.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Journal of Family IssuesHome page
J. Galtry and P. Callister
Assessing the Optimal Length of Parental Leave for Child and Parental Well-Being: How Can Research Inform Policy?
Journal of Family Issues, March 1, 2005; 26(2): 219 - 246.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
Section on Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk
Pediatrics, February 1, 2005; 115(2): 496 - 506.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
A. S. Ryan, W. Zhou, and M. H. Gaston
Regional and Sociodemographic Variation of Breastfeeding in the United States, 2002
Clinical Pediatrics, November 1, 2004; 43(9): 815 - 824.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
A. S. Ryan, Z. Wenjun, and A. Acosta
Breastfeeding Continues to Increase Into the New Millennium
Pediatrics, December 1, 2002; 110(6): 1103 - 1109.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Hum LactHome page
V. K. Raj and S. B. Plichta
The Role of Social Support in Breastfeeding Promotion: A Literature Review
J Hum Lact, March 1, 1998; 14(1): 41 - 45.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
Work Group on Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk
Pediatrics, December 1, 1997; 100(6): 1035 - 1039.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
A. S. Ryan
The Resurgence of Breastfeeding in the United States
Pediatrics, April 1, 1997; 99(4): e12 - e12.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Hum LactHome page
I. T. Forrester, G. Wheelock, and A. P. Warren
Assessment of Students' Attitudes toward Breastfeeding
J Hum Lact, March 1, 1997; 13(1): 33 - 37.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J Hum LactHome page
P. D. Hill, K. S. Hanson, and A. L. Mefford
Mothers of Low Birthweight Infants: Breastfeeding Patterns and Problems
J Hum Lact, September 1, 1994; 10(3): 169 - 176.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
H. Littman, S. VanderBrug Medendorp, and J. Goldfarb
The Decision to Breastfeed: The Importance of Fathers' Approval
Clinical Pediatrics, April 1, 1994; 33(4): 214 - 219.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 West J Nurs ResHome page
L. Duckett, S. J. Henly, M. Garvis, J. R. Weiss, and S. S. Humenick
Predicting Breast-Feeding Duration during the Postpartum Hospitalization
West J Nurs Res, April 1, 1993; 15(2): 177 - 198.
[PDF]

Home page
 J Hum LactHome page
L. Furman
Breastfeeding and Fulltime Maternal Employment: Does the Baby Lose Out?
J Hum Lact, March 1, 1993; 9(1): 1 - 2.
[PDF]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
A. S. Ryan, J. L. Wysong, G. A. Martinez, and S. D. Simon
Duration of Breast-feeding Patterns Established in the Hospital: Influencing Factors Results from a National Survey
Clinical Pediatrics, February 1, 1990; 29(2): 99 - 107.
[Abstract] [PDF]