A systematic review was conducted to examine female body image in relation to the intention, initiation and duration of post-partum infant feeding methods. A search of 10 databases was conducted to identify studies. A total of nine studies were included in the systematic review. All studies were of a non-randomised control design with a total of 13,046 participants. Findings suggest that exclusive breastfeeding is more likely in pregnant women with a higher body image, while those with body concerns had less intention to breastfeed or initiate, with those who start having a shorter duration.
Keywords: body image; breastfeeding; feeding; pregnancy; systematic review.