Postpartum Teaching and the Subsequent Use of Milk Supplements

Of 70 first‐time mothers, 35 were randomly given a single postpartum teaching session on breastfeeding in the first 24 hours after delivery. Interviews at 6 weeks revealed that significantly more of the mothers who had been taught about breastfeeding were not using milk supplements and had not discontinued breastfeeding. This trend became nonsignificant at 3 months. Reasons for supplementing and discontinuing breastfeeding are analyzed .