Breastfeeding patterns in one-year-old children was not affected by a breastfeeding support intervention

Background

Breastfeeding patterns in 12-month-old children play a central role in the mother-infant dyad, but studies describing the patterns are scarce.

Aim

To investigate breastfeeding patterns in 12-month-old infants before and after a breastfeeding support programme.

Study design

A baseline/intervention design as part of a larger implementation project aiming to revive the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding programme.

Subjects

During a 24-h period, 28 mothers from a baseline group and 24 mothers from an intervention group recorded all breastfeeding sessions on a pen and paper form.

Results

The median (range) frequency of breastfeeding sessions was 6 (1−22) in the baseline group and 7 (1−20) times per 24 h in the intervention group. No significant difference was observed in frequencies between the two groups. The majority of children (57 % in the baseline group and 62 % in the intervention group) exhibited a pattern classified as partial breastfeeding, engaging in breastfeeding 6 or more times per 24 h throughout a substantial part of the day. A second pattern was classified as token breastfeeding, with few breastfeeding sessions, suggesting that breastfeeding occurred primarily for comfort.

Conclusion

This study illuminates the breastfeeding behaviours of 12-month-old children and can serve to normalise frequent breastfeeding patterns, potentially aiding mothers who wish to continue breastfeeding beyond infancy. The findings indicate no difference between the groups, suggesting that the implemented intervention did not influence maternal breastfeeding practices at one year of age. This underscores the potential necessity for prolonged support for parents throughout the breastfeeding period.

ISRCTN registry: doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN91972905.