A Study of Breast Feeding Rates at a Large Australian Obstetric Hospital

A prospective breast feeding survey in a large obstetric hospital was carried out from 1988 to 1991. For each year, a sample of women were interviewed following delivery and data was collected which included the method of feeding, patient status (public or private patients), age, parity, (including previous breast feeding experience), marital status, country of birth and the number of babies. The mother's feeding method after delivery and on discharge from hospital were recorded. Women who were breast feeding on discharge were interviewed at 3 months. When putting the figures for the 4 years together, the breast feeding commencement rate was 88%, the breast feeding rate on discharge was 80% and the breast feeding rate at 3 months was between 51% and 57%. Factors found to be affecting the breast feeding rate at 3 months included patient status, age and parity. Problems experienced by the mothers after discharge from hospital included nipple pain, nipple trauma and mastitis. Private patients reported a significantly higher rate of mastitis than public patients.