Journal
ACTA PAEDIATRICA
Volume 105, Issue 6, Pages 628-634Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/apa.13354
Keywords
Bed-sharing; Breastfeeding; Breastfeeding intent; Co-sleeping; SIDS; sudden infant death syndrome
Categories
Funding
- National Institute for Health Research (UK)
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) [PB-PG-0706-10618]
- Newcastle and North Tyneside Acute Hospitals Trust
- National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR) [PB-PG-0706-10618] Funding Source: National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR)
- National Institute for Health Research [PB-PG-0706-10618] Funding Source: researchfish
- ESRC [ES/I030123/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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Aim: To explore the link between breastfeeding duration and bed-sharing frequency among women reporting a prenatal intention to breastfeed. Methods: About 870 participants in a randomised breastfeeding trial, recruited at mid-pregnancy, provided weekly snapshots of breastfeeding and bed-sharing behaviour for 26 weeks following birth. Strength of prenatal breastfeeding intent was recorded at recruitment using Likert-type scales. Results: Outcomes were frequency of bed-sharing at home for at least one hour per week, and time to cessation of breastfeeding. There were insufficient data to classify bed-sharing pattern in 192/870 (22%) of mothers. Of the remainder, 44% (299/678) of participants 'rarely' or 'never' bed-shared, 28% (192/678) did so 'intermittently' and 28% (187/678) did so 'often'. These three groups did not differ significantly in marital status, income, infant gestational age, maternal age or delivery mode. Significantly, more participants who bed-shared 'often' reported strong prenatal breastfeeding intent (70% vs. 57% and 56% for 'intermittent' and 'rare' bed-share groups) and attached high prenatal importance to breastfeeding (95% vs. 87% and 82%). Significantly, more women who bed-shared frequently were breastfeeding at 6 months (p < 0.0001) than those who intermittently or rarely/never bed-shared. Conclusion: Women with strong motivation to breastfeed frequently bed-share. Given the complex relationship between bed-sharing and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) appropriate guidance balancing risk minimisation with support for breastfeeding mothers is crucial.
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