PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate differences in maternal role confidence and parenting stress according to the infant's feeding method. METHOD: The participants were 257 mothers of infants aged 5~7 months. 145 breast-feeding mothers and 112 bottle-feeding mothers participated. The Maternal Role Confidence Scale and Parenting Stress Index(PSI) were used. RESULTS: The score of maternal role confidence of breast-feeding mothers (3.28) was significantly higher than that of bottle-feeding mothers(2.84). In addition, the parenting stress level of breast-feeding mothers(1.80) was lower than that of bottle-feeding mothers(2.97). However, the scores of maternal role confidence and the parenting stress level were not different according to the mother's and infant's personality characteristics. There was a significant negative correlation between the score of maternal role confidence and parenting stress levels(r=-.55, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Breast feeding mothers had more confidence of their maternal role, and a lower parenting stress level. Therefore, nurses must encourage infant mothers to breast feed since it is the best option for mothers as well as infants.
Breast ; Breast Feeding ; Feeding Methods* ; Humans ; Infant ; Mothers ; Parenting* ; Parents*

This study was done to compare the breast-feeding primiparas' perceptions of their babies with bottle-feeding primiparas' at 2-3 days after delivery. The subjects of this study included 42 breast-feeding mothers and 56 bottle-feeding mothers. Data were collected by using the Neonatal Perception Inventory(NPI) devised by Broussard(1963) and added by Lee, Ja Hyung(1986) form December, 1996 to June, 1997. The results of this study are as follows : 1. Primiparas perceptions of their babies according to their general characteristics. 1) There was no significant difference in mothers' perceptions according to mothers' age and whether they have a job or not. 2) There was a difference in mothers' perceptions according to their educational level(P<0.1). 2. The comparisons of breast-feeding mothers' perceptions of their babies with bottle-feeding mothers'. 1) There was no significant difference in the two group's perceptions of other babies 2) There was no significant difference in the two group's perceptions of their own babies. (1) Breast-feeding mothers' general perceptions of their own babies were better than bottle-feeding mothers', but there was (2) Breast-feeding mothers' perceptions about the basic needs of their own babies were better than bottle-feeding mothers', and there was a significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05). (3) Breast-feeding mothers' perceptions about the sense and motor abilities of their own babies were better than bottle-feeding mothers', but there was no significant difference between the two groups. (4) Breast-feeding mother's perceptions about the necessary care of their own babies were lower than bottle-feeding mothers', but there was no significant difference between the two group. 3) There was no significant difference between the two groups' positive-negative perceptions of their babies (1) 69% of breast-feeding mothers and 69.9% of bottle-feeding mothers had positive perceptions about general conditions, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (2) 57.1% of breast-feeding mothers and 46.4% of bottle-feeding mothers had positive perceptions about the needs of babies, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. (3) 50% of breast-feeding mothers and 48.2% of bottle-feeding mothers had positive perceptions about the sense and motor abilities of babies, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. (4) 57.1% of breast-feeding mothers and 60.7% of bottle-feeding mothers had positive perceptions about the necessary care for babies, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. 3. 54.8% of breast-feeding mothers tried to feed their own babies on the 1st day after delivery. 83.3% of breast-feeding mothers chose the feeding method for themselves. Only 9.5% of breast-feeding mothers took recommendations for breast-feeding from nurses. 78.6% of breast-feeding mothers had no chance to learn about breast-feeding. 69% of breast-feeding mothers complained about the difficulties of breast-feeding. The most serious problems were : 'insufficient milk supply', 'lack of knowledge about feeding technique' and 'problems with nipples'.
Bottle Feeding* ; Breast Feeding* ; Breast* ; Feeding Methods ; Humans ; Milk ; Mothers ; Child Health

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feeding behavior of infants and young children aged from 6 to 24-month-old in Chengdu by feeding index.

METHODS608 infants and young children were randomly selected from Chengdu and divided into 6-, 9-, 12 - 24 month-old groups. Data including basic information, breastfeeding, and complementary feeding were collected through questionnaire. The feeding status of subjects was evaluated by feeding index system (the total score was 19) established by infant feeding principle of WHO.

RESULTSThe total feeding index score (FIS) of 608 subjects was 11.0 ± 2.4. The FIS of 6-(192), in 9-(174) and 12 - 24 month-old (242) groups were 9.6 ± 2.8, 11.1 ± 2.1, 11.9 ± 1.6, respectively. The FIS was increased with month of children (F = 61.311, P < 0.05). The ratios above 60% (the score of 11.4) and 80% (the score of 15.2) of FIS were 46.4% (282/608) and 0.7% (4/608) respectively. The ratios above 60% of FIS were 26.5% (51/192), 45.4% (79/174), 66.9% (162/242) in 6-, 9-, 12 - 24 month-old groups respectively. The percentages of bottle feeding and breastfeeding were 94.2% (573/608) and 25.2% (153/608) respectively.45.1% (274/608) of them were fed by recommended feeding frequency, and 73.0% (444/608) were given enough types of food. With the month-old increasing, the foods of higher intake frequency were vegetables/fruits, cereals, milk and diary product, eggs. The intake frequency of meat was higher in 9 to 24 month-old group, but intake frequency of fish and beans was low in all groups.

CONCLUSIONThe feeding behavior of infants and young children in Chengdu is not optimistic, especially for the lower month infants.

Bottle Feeding ; Breast Feeding ; China ; Feeding Behavior ; Feeding Methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This retrospective descriptive study was done to identify maternal characteristics related to infant feeding methods. Data were collected by self-report from 90 mothers who visited a health clinic in Seoul between July 30 and August 14, 2001. The mothers were classified into 3 groups according to the feeding method at 4 weeks after childbirth; Exclusive breast feeding group, Mixed breast feeding group, Bottle feeding group. Mothers using exclusive breast feeding accounted for 46.6% of the mothers, those using mixed breast feeding, 26.7%, and those using bottle feeding, 26.7%. Although the percentage of mothers using exclusive breast feeding was higher, there was no significant difference among the groups. In our research, characteristics related to the mother were found to be in a state of change. Mothers with higher education and having a job had higher rates for exclusive breast feeding. This result is different from that of earlier research. Further research is needed to confirm these characteristics. In order to increase the rate for exclusive breast feeding and the duration of breast feeding, nurses need to provide programs aimed at fostering breast feeding and these programs should be based on characteristics related to breast feeding shown in our research.
Bottle Feeding ; Breast Feeding* ; Breast* ; Education ; Feeding Methods ; Foster Home Care ; Humans ; Infant* ; Mothers* ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul

Many people experience psychological distress because of large nipples. In this article, the authors would like to introduce our simple nipple reduction method that addresses the drawbacks of previous methods. This technique for nipple reduction using an S-shaped excision is simple, safe, and predictable. It is also a suitable method for nipple reduction in men and in women who have completed breastfeeding.
Breast Feeding ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mammaplasty ; Methods ; Nipples* ; Surgical Flaps

OBJECTIVETo investigate the iodine levels of urine from 1 month old breast-fed infants and the ones of milk and urine from the lactating women, and to observe the effects of different feeding methods (breast-feeding, mixed-feeding, bottle-feeding) on the iodine status of the infants during the weaning period in Beijing.

METHODSFrom March, 2001 to March, 2002, the iodine levels of urine from 97 breast-fed infants 1 month of age and the ones in milk and urine from lactating women were measured and compared. The infants followed up were divided into 3 groups (breast-fed, mixed and bottle-fed) until 6 months old. Their iodine levels of urine were measured and compared with the ones of 1 month of age.

RESULTSThe median value of urine iodine from breast-fed 1 month old infants was 183 micro g/L, suggesting that the infants with breast-fed had good iodine nutritional status. The median value of urine iodine from lactating women was 122 micro g/L, significantly lower than the value of milk iodine, 201 micro g/L (P < 0.001). which suggests that the lactating women were iodine deficient but could provide infants iodine adequately through breast feeding. Compared with 1 month af age, the urine iodine levels of 6 months old infants with breast-feeding increased (P < 0.001), the ones with bottle-feeding decreased significantly (P < 0.001) and the mixed-feeding group did not change (P > 0.05). The differences among 3 groups were significant (P < 0.005), the urine iodine levels of infants of both breast-feeding and mixed-feeding groups were higher than the ones of bottle-feeding. The breast-feeding group was the highest one among three groups.

CONCLUSIONThe breast-fed infants were nourished with iodine, but the lactating women were iodine deficient. Accompanied the decrease of the amount of breast milk, the iodine levels of infants urine decreased during the weaning period, some bottle-feeding infants were iodine deficient.

Bottle Feeding ; Breast Feeding ; Feeding Methods ; nursing ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Infant, Newborn ; Iodine ; urine ; Male

This study was carried out to investigate the feeding practices, growth status and correlation with maternal perceptions of breast feeding and lactation with infuts' feeding methods in the Pocheon area. The subjects were 103 infants ranging from 3 to 21 postpartum months and their mothers. The results obtained were as follows : In this survey, 36.9% of the infants were breast-feeding, while 53.4% of them were bottle-feeding, and 9.7% of them were mixed-feeding. The reason for bottle-feeding was due mainly to the lack of breast-milk secretion. Z-scores of weight-f3r-age and height-for-age were similar to Korean standards, but malnutrition and overnutrition were also noticed by kaup index and WLI. The average maternal perceptions of breast-feeding and lactation was 3.7 out of 10 possible points, the breast-feeding group scored 4.7, and formula-feeding and mixed-feeding group scored 3.0. That of BF group was higher than FF+MF groups and was positively correlated with growth status. Therefore to ensure proper growth of infants and to promote breast-feeding, efforts should be given to community nutritional services including nutrition education for the importance of colostrum and breast-milk, practical breast-feeding methods, and nutritional management during pregnancy. Also nutrition education for mothers will be continued to 1-3 postpartum months to promote successful breast-feeding.
Breast Feeding* ; Breast* ; Colostrum ; Education ; Feeding Methods* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant* ; Lactation ; Malnutrition ; Mothers ; Overnutrition ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify breastfeeding practice with late preterm infants (LPIs), and to determine predictors of exclusive breastfeeding at the 12th week after discharge. METHODS: The participants were 106 mothers of LPIs hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units at two university hospitals. Data were collected between February and October, 2013. Questionnaires included characteristics of LPIs, their mothers, and feeding-related characteristics. Feeding methods were exclusive breastfeeding, mixed feeding, and formula feeding. RESULTS: Exclusive breastfeeding steadily increased from 5.7% at the 1st week to 19.8% at the 12th week, as did formula feeding from 27.3% to 67.9%. Contrarily, mixed feeding decreased from 67.0% at the 1st week to 12.3% at the 12th week. The ratio of formula feeding was higher than that of exclusive breastfeeding over time. Predictors for exclusive breastfeeding were the following: type of delivery (OR=2.96, 95%CI=1.07-8.14), feeding intolerance (OR=3.03, 95%CI=1.26-7.25) and feeding method during hospitalization (OR=7.84, 95%CI=3.15-19.53). CONCLUSION: In order to increase breastfeeding opportunities for LPIs, educational programs for gestational age-appropriate breastfeeding should be developed. The focus of breastfeeding education needs to be on mothers who delivered their LPIs through Cesarean-section and LPIs who had feeding intolerance or were fed only formula during hospitalization.
Breast Feeding* ; Education ; Feeding Methods ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Mothers ; Prevalence*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the iodine nutritional status of the vulnerable population in Henan in 2011.

METHODSFrom March to December 2011, 44 049 urinary samples of newly married women of childbearing age (363), pregnant women (31 874), lactating women (4893) and children under 2 years (6919) collected from hospitals, maternal and child care hospitals and outpatient department of family planning organizations from 8 cities of Henan province (only including the areas where water iodine was less than 100 µg/L) were tested for urine iodine concentration. The iodine nutritional status of different groups was analyzed.

RESULTSThe median of urinary iodine for newly married women, pregnant women, lactating women and children under 2 years was 204.5, 190.9, 145.5 and 185.4 µg/L, respectively (χ(2) = 874.16, P < 0.01). The proportion of urinary iodine below 150 µg/L of pregnant women and below 100 µg/L of lactating women and children under 2 years was 33.0% (10 519/31 874), 24.9% (1218/4893) and 12.4% (855/6919), respectively. The proportion of urinary iodine above 300 µg/L of newly married women was 33.6% (122/363). The median of urinary iodine for pregnant women in the first, second and third trimester was 186.7, 193.8 and 182.5 µg/L, respectively (χ(2) = 55.19, P < 0.01). The median of urinary iodine for the breast-feeding, formula-feeding and mixed-feeding infant under the age of 1 year was 194.8, 85.6 and 176.0 µg/L, respectively (χ(2) = 179.25, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe overall iodine nutrient levels of the vulnerable population in Henan in 2011 were appropriate, but there were still some proportions of pregnant and lactating women with low iodine level. The iodine intake of the formula-feeding infants was not sufficient.

Breast Feeding ; China ; Feeding Methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Iodine ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Population Surveillance ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the nutrition quotient (NQ) by gender and understand which factors influence NQ in preschool children. METHODS: Subjects were 245 children (110 boys, 135 girls) aged 4-6 years and their parents. The questionnaire composed of demographic characteristics, eating behavior factors and the NQ questions. The NQ consisted of 19 food behavior checklist items and all items were grouped into 5 factors: balance, diversity, moderation, regularity, and practice. Inbody J05, a measurement device that measures individual's body composition was used to measure children's anthropometric data. All data were statistically analyzed by SPSS program (Ver. 20) and the statistical differences in variables were evaluated by Student t-test, chi2-test, One-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test. RESULTS: The total NQ score of the subjects was 65.3. The NQ score of girls (67.0) was significantly higher than that of the boys (63.2) (p<0.01). The girls' average scores of NQ factors including diversity (p<0.01) and practice (p<0.05) were higher than those of the boys. The analysis of related-factors influencing NQ scores showed that there was a significant difference among the groups according to feeding methods during infancy (p<0.05), breast feeding group being the highest. Furthermore, the NQ score showed a significant difference depending on how to correct children's unbalanced diet as well as parents' nutrition knowledge. The NQ score of obesity group tended to be lower than that of underweight group although there was no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Overall results indicated that the girls had better quality of diet and eating habits than the boys. Children and their parents need proper nutrition education and counseling to correct children's eating habits and to improve diet quality in kindergartens and in children care centers.
Body Composition ; Breast Feeding ; Checklist ; Child ; Child, Preschool* ; Counseling ; Diet ; Eating ; Education ; Feeding Behavior ; Feeding Methods ; Female ; Humans ; Obesity ; Parents ; Thinness