A new study led by senior author María José Romo-Palafox, assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics at Saint Louis University in Missouri, has examined how the COVID-19 pandemic and associated stay-at-home orders affected the breastfeeding practices of women from different regions, economic levels, and racial backgrounds.
For their study, the authors examined data from a 2020 survey of 1,861 mothers regarding their infant feeding practices, maternal stress levels, and use of lactation support resources. The survey also tracked the influence of misinformation on feeding decisions.
According to their analysis, the authors found that over a third of participants said the pandemic’s stay-at-home orders positively affected their breastfeeding habits. Due to the ease of breastfeeding at home, these mothers reported stronger bonds with their infants and increased breastfeeding duration.
However, mothers from low-income and racially diverse backgrounds often had to return to in-person work early because of financial challenges, which created barriers to the breastfeeding advantages experienced by mothers who could work from home. While current policies, such as the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, aim to promote breastfeeding among working mothers, the authors emphasize that mothers from underrepresented backgrounds may require more support tailored to their unique needs.
The pandemic also caused challenges in accessing lactation support and mental health resources for mothers of all backgrounds. The authors believe that future breastfeeding policies and healthcare practices should focus on the benefits of tele-health support services and flexible work environments to promote equitable maternity leave options, both now and during future global health crises.