Prevalence of breast-feeding in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study and health service-related correlates of cessation of full breast-feeding

Objective: First, to describe the prevalence of both full and partial breast-feeding during the first 6 months; second, to study the associations between selected health service-related factors and cessation of full breast-feeding at three time intervals. Design: Retrospective questionnaires, 6 months after birth. Setting: The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Subjects: In total, 29 621 women. Results: While 96.6%, 94.0%, 90.8%, 86.9%, 83.8% and 80.0% of the infants were breast-fed at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months, respectively, the corresponding proportions for full breast-feeding were 84.6%, 79.1%, 70.9%, 44.0%, 16.7% and 2.1%. An increased risk of cessation of full breast-feeding during the first month was associated with supplementation during the first week of life with water (relative risk (RR) 1.77; 95% CI 1.52, 2.06), sugar water (RR 1.73; 95% CI 1.49, 2.00) or formula (RR 5.99; 95% CI 5.58, 6.42). An increased risk was also associated with Caesarean delivery (RR 1.08; 95% CI 1.00, 1.16) and breast-feeding problems (RR 1.56; 95% CI 1.45, 1.67). Between months 1 and 3, the risk of cessation of full breast-feeding remained elevated in the case of supplementation during the first week of life with water (RR 1.29; 95% CI 1.14, 1.45), sugar water (RR 1.48; 95% CI 1.34, 1.64) or formula (RR 1.18; 95% CI 1.07, 1.29). The same applied to Caesarean delivery (RR 1.15; 95% CI 1.06, 1.25). Conclusions: Supplementation during the first week, breast-feeding problems and Caesarean delivery are associated with early cessation of full breast-feeding. The results support a cautious approach to supplementation during the first week of life.