Comparison of breastfeeding rates among women delivering infants in military treatment facilities with and without lactation consultants

Dedicated breastfeeding professionals improve breastfeeding initiation, which benefits infants, mothers, families, society, and the military. Research provides evidence that breastfeeding decreases rates of infection, hospitalization, and obesity, contributes to higher intelligence among breastfed infants, and reduces employee absenteeism and maternal breast cancer risk. This retrospective study examined the impact of lactation consultants (LCs) on breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates during the first 6 months of life. A sample set of charts for live infant deliveries between July 1, 2001 and September 30, 2001 at three southern U.S. military medical treatment facilities was reviewed. Ninety-eight percent (n = 89) of mothers who interacted with the LC at the Air Force facility initiated breastfeeding, compared with 14.4% (n = 3) of mothers without LC interaction (p < 0.001). Women with higher levels of education and those >= 27 years of age had higher breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates. Significantly more active duty mothers stopped breastfeeding at 4 months, compared with non-active duty mothers (p = 0.038).