Breastfeeding, a natural and highly beneficial method of nourishing infants, provides them with vital nutrients and antibodies crucial for their optimal growth and development. It not only fosters a strong bond between the baby and the mother but also reduces the risk of various illnesses. While the choice to breastfeed is personal, healthcare professionals widely recommend it as the ideal source of nutrition for newborns during the first six months of life.
Research findings from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) reveal an intriguing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study indicates that American mothers extended their breastfeeding duration by an additional two weeks compared to the period before the pandemic, thanks to the shelter-in-place orders.
“Stay-at-home policies allowed parents to continue breastfeeding in the comfort of their homes rather than returning to the workplace,” explained Rita Hamad, MD, Ph.D., associate professor in Family and Community Medicine at UCSF and director of the university’s Social Policies for Health Equity Research Program. “This suggests a pent-up demand for breastfeeding, which may be hindered by the absence of a national paid family leave policy in the United States.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months due to the extensive health benefits it provides to both the child and the parent.
The study observed that the increase in breastfeeding duration during the shelter-in-place period was most significant among white women and those with higher incomes. This disparity can be attributed to the fact that these groups had jobs that allowed for remote work more easily. On the other hand, Hispanic parents, who were more likely to hold essential lower-wage jobs during the pandemic, experienced more modest gains in breastfeeding duration.
“Once again, the pandemic has highlighted an area of health inequality – differences in workplaces that support breastfeeding,” remarked Hamad.
Published in the American Journal of Public Health, the study utilized workplace closures during the early months of the pandemic (March-April 2020) as a natural experiment to examine how the ability to stay at home affected breastfeeding patterns among new parents. By analyzing data from a national survey and birth certificates of 118,139 postpartum individuals between 2017 and 2020, researchers investigated breastfeeding initiation and duration before and after the implementation of shelter-in-place policies.
While the rates of breastfeeding initiation remained unchanged during the pandemic, the study found that women increased the length of time they breastfed from 12.6 weeks to 14.8 weeks, representing an 18% increase. Among ethnic groups, white women exhibited the largest increase in duration at 19%, while Hispanic women showed the smallest increase at 10.3%. Additionally, high-income women experienced a greater increase compared to lower-income women (18.5% vs. 16.8%). The longer breastfeeding durations persisted until at least August 2020 before returning to pre-pandemic levels.
The fact that overall breastfeeding initiation did not change significantly during the early months of the pandemic suggests that barriers to starting breastfeeding may differ from those affecting its continuation. However, the study observed a decrease in breastfeeding initiation among Black and low-income subgroups, indicating reduced access to breastfeeding support during the shelter-in-place period for these communities.
In terms of breastfeeding rates, the United States ranks poorly compared to its peer countries, and it is the only high-income nation without a national paid leave policy for new parents. Only a quarter of private industry workers in the U.S. have access to paid family leave through their employers, with people of color and low-wage workers being the least eligible.
“Our study implies that breastfeeding duration in the U.S. could be higher and more in line with other countries if working parents were financially supported while staying at home to care for their newborns, particularly for parents of color and those with lower-income jobs who cannot afford to take unpaid time off work,” suggested Hamad.
Reference: “The Pent-Up Demand for Breastfeeding Among US Women: Trends After COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place” by Rita Hamad, MD, Ph.D., Daniel F. Collin, MPH, Alison Gemmill, Ph.D., MPH, Kaitlyn Jackson, MPH, and Deborah Karasek, Ph.D., MPH, 18 May 2023, American Journal of Public Health.
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2023.307313
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about breastfeeding duration
What is the impact of the pandemic on breastfeeding duration?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the lockdown measures and stay-at-home policies led to an increase in breastfeeding duration among American mothers. They breastfed their babies for an additional two weeks compared to pre-pandemic times.
Why did the lockdown contribute to extended breastfeeding duration?
The lockdown allowed parents to continue breastfeeding at home instead of returning to the workplace. With the ability to stay at home, parents had more time and convenience to breastfeed their infants, leading to an increase in breastfeeding duration.
Was the increase in breastfeeding duration consistent across all groups?
The study found that the increase in breastfeeding duration during the lockdown was more pronounced among white women and those with higher incomes. This difference can be attributed to the fact that these groups had jobs that could be done remotely, making it easier for them to continue breastfeeding. Hispanic parents, on the other hand, were more likely to have essential lower-wage jobs, resulting in more modest gains in breastfeeding duration.
What is the significance of a national paid family leave policy?
The lack of a national paid family leave policy in the United States is seen as a barrier to breastfeeding. The study suggests that the absence of financial support for working parents to stay home and care for their newborns hinders breastfeeding duration. Implementing a nationwide paid family leave policy would likely result in higher breastfeeding rates, particularly for parents of color and those with lower-income jobs who may struggle to take unpaid time off work.
What are the overall health benefits of breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding provides essential nutrients and antibodies for infants, promoting optimal growth and development. It offers numerous health benefits for both the baby and the mother, including reduced risk of various illnesses and diseases. Breastfeeding also fosters bonding between the parent and child.
How was the study conducted?
The study utilized workplace closures during the early months of the pandemic as a natural experiment. Researchers analyzed national survey and birth certificate data to examine breastfeeding initiation and duration for babies born before and after the implementation of shelter-in-place policies. The study included a large sample size of 118,139 postpartum individuals between 2017 and 2020.
What are the implications of the study’s findings?
The study highlights the need for workplace support and policies that facilitate breastfeeding, as well as the importance of a national paid family leave policy. By addressing these issues, breastfeeding duration in the United States could be increased, leading to improved health outcomes for infants and parents.
More about breastfeeding duration
- University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Journal of Public Health
- U.S. Department of Labor – Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Breastfeeding
5 comments
wow so interesting! lockdown actually helped moms breastfeed longer. it makes sense coz they could stay home. but we need more support like paid leave 4 all parents.
breastfeeding is so important for baby’s health & bonding with mom. but US is falling behind other countries. we need to change that! paid leave for all parents would make a huge difference.
love seeing more research on breastfeeding! it’s crucial for baby’s immunity. but we gotta address the barriers. paid leave & workplace support would be a game-changer. let’s make it happen!
the study used workplace closures during pandemic as an experiment. big data! they found that breastfeeding duration increased during lockdown. but some groups had more gains than others. interesting stuff!
cool study! it showed that white moms & rich moms breastfed longer. that’s not fair! we need to make it easier for everyone, no matter their race or money.