Objective: Insufficient breast milk is a major reason why mothers give up breastfeeding and may be related to low levels of maternal confidence. This study explored the relationship between parenting self-efficacy (PES) and perception of insufficient breast milk.
Design: Cross-sectional descriptive correlational study.
Setting: Four private primary care pediatric practices in the northern United States.
Participants: Sixty breastfeeding mothers of infants ages 1 to 11 weeks.
Procedures: Mothers were recruited during well-baby pediatric visits. They returned completed questionnaires by mail. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, and multiple regression analysis.
Main outcome measure: The Perception of Insufficient Milk (PIM) questionnaire, an investigator-developed instrument.
Results: There was a significant correlation (r = .487, p < .01) between the self-efficacy and perceived insufficient milk scores. Regression analysis revealed that 23% of the variance in PIM was explained by PES, after maternal age, education, and parity had been taken into account.
Conclusions: Although further research is needed to refine the measurement of perceived insufficient milk and differentiate breastfeeding self-efficacy from general parenting self-efficacy, nursing interventions to enhance self-efficacy may improve mothers' confidence in the adequacy of their milk supply.