Abstract
INTRODUCTION:Physicians face unique challenges in the postpartum period, including limited maternity leave. We aim to determine the relationship between length of maternity leave and breastfeeding outcomes.METHODS:Physicians who had a singleton pregnancy during the most strenuous time of their career were included in the cross-sectional survey. Questions were adapted from the CDC's Infant Feeding Practices Study and Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, along with investigator-developed questions. Surveys were distributed through social-media physician groups and email listservs. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were completed via STATA version 17.RESULTS:Of the 807 responses, 637 were eligible and complete. The most strenuous time identified was during residency (36%). Greater than 30 specialties and subspecialties were represented, and the most common were pediatrics (37%), obstetrics and gynecology (18%), and family medicine (16%). There were associations between medical specialty (P=.006) and birth year (P<.0001) and length of maternity leave. The average maternity leave duration was 10±0.4 weeks. Maternity leave >6 weeks was associated with meeting personal breastfeeding goals compared to ≤6 weeks (80% vs 71%, P=.02). The mean duration of breastfeeding for respondents with ≤6 weeks maternity leave was 15±1.7 months while the mean duration for those with >6 weeks was 17±1.4 months (P=.01). There was a positive correlation between breastfeeding duration and maternity leave (R2=0.12, P=.01).CONCLUSION:There is a relationship between length of maternity leave and breastfeeding outcomes. Supporting adequate maternity leave for physicians, especially those in training, is important for breastfeeding outcomes.