Publication Description
OBJECTIVE: To estimate whether maternal sense of control in labor is associated with breastfeeding at 4-8 weeks postpartum. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of data from a multicenter randomized controlled trial of elective induction of labor at 39 weeks of gestation in low-risk nulliparous women. In this trial, women completed the Labor Agentry Scale, a validated measure of women's feelings of control over the childbirth process, 6-96 hours after delivery. The Labor Agentry Scale score, which is higher with more perceived control during childbirth, was analyzed both as a continuous and a categorical variable (quintiles). Self-reported breastfeeding at 4-8 weeks postpartum was categorized as exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding and formula feeding, or exclusive formula feeding. Women were included in this analysis if they labored, filled out a Labor Agentry Scale questionnaire, had a neonate who survived until the postpartum visit, and provided information on infant feeding. Multinomial logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. RESULTS: Of 5,185 women, 32.9% (n=1,705) were exclusively breastfeeding, 31.2% (n=1,620) were breastfeeding and formula feeding, and 35.9% (n=1,860) were exclusively formula feeding 4-8 weeks after delivery. Overall Labor Agentry Scale score ranged from 34 to 203 (median 167, interquartile range 145-182). The median Labor Agentry Scale score was 169 (interquartile range 151-183) for women exclusively breastfeeding, 166 (interquartile range 142-182) for women who were breastfeeding and formula feeding, and 164 (interquartile range 142-181) for women who were only formula feeding (P<.001 in="" the="" unadjusted="" multinomial="" model="" women="" with="" labor="" agentry="" scale="" scores="" lowest="" two="" quintiles="" those="" lower="" perceived="" control="" during="" childbirth="" were="" less="" likely="" to="" be="" exclusively="" breastfeeding="" compared="" formula="" feeding="" than="" highest="" quintile.="" when="" controlling="" for="" confounders="" however="" this="" association="" was="" no="" longer="" significant.="" conclusion:="" after="" adjustment="" not="" associated="" at="" weeks="" postpartum="" among="" nulliparous="" women.="" clinical="" trial="" registration:="" clinicaltrials.gov="" nct01990612.="">