Infant Feeding Study.09-68

The Infant Feeding Experience of New Mothers - a Descriptive Pilot Study.

Characterize a population-based sample of first-time expectant mothers with regards to maternal metabolic health and their infant feeding experience.

The long range purpose of this pilot study is to inform the development of an NIH-funded randomized intervention trial designed to improve early breastfeeding outcomes for mothers planning to breastfeed. The purpose of the pilot study is to 1) described the prenatal infant feeding attitudes and intentions of population-based sample of expectant mothers from the same recruitment base as the future intervention trial, 2) characterize the metabolic health profiles of the sample and 3) estimate the prevalence of early lactation difficulties among the subset of this sample that initiates breastfeeding.

Inclusion Criteria:

• First-time expectant mother, speaks English, receiving OB care at designated practice group

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1) Under 18 years old; 2)no access to local telephone 3) multiple gestation 4) history of major breast surgery