A new study from Yale School of Medicine reveals that mothers who use breast pumps tend to breastfeed for nearly five months longer than those who don’t. This research provides fresh insights into the impact of pump usage on breastfeeding practices in the United States.
The Power of the Pump: Extending Breastfeeding Duration
Researchers analyzed data from over 19,000 U.S. mothers who breastfed between 2016 and 2021. They found that pump users breastfed for an average of 21 weeks longer than non-users. This significant difference highlights the potential of breast pumps to support extended breastfeeding practices.
Dr. Deanna Nardella, lead author and research fellow at Yale School of Medicine, emphasized the widespread adoption of pumps: “This statistic demonstrates the near ubiquitous practice of pump use among breast and chestfeeding families in the U.S. today.” Indeed, the study found that over 91% of respondents reported using a breast pump at some point.
Addressing Breastfeeding Inequities
The study also uncovered potential benefits for groups traditionally affected by breastfeeding disparities. “Pump use among non-Hispanic Black and Native American women had the greatest magnitude of association with longer breastfeeding durations in our predictive model,” Nardella noted. This finding suggests that improving access to breast pumps could help reduce inequities in breastfeeding rates among different demographic groups.
The research comes at a crucial time, as it’s the first major study on this topic since the Affordable Care Act mandated insurance coverage for breast pumps in 2012. This policy change has likely contributed to the high rate of pump usage observed in the study.
Why it matters: Breastfeeding offers numerous health benefits for both mothers and infants. By extending breastfeeding duration, breast pumps could potentially improve health outcomes for millions of families across the United States.
The study’s findings raise several important questions:
1. How can healthcare providers better support mothers in using breast pumps effectively?
2. What role should insurance companies play in ensuring access to high-quality pumps?
3. How can workplace policies be adjusted to accommodate pumping mothers?
Dr. Nardella and her team hope their work will inform policy decisions and clinical practices. “Ensuring access to pumps for U.S. families could help mitigate known inequities in breastfeeding duration rates,” she stated. The researchers advocate for evidence-based guidelines on safe and effective pump use to promote equitable breastfeeding outcomes.
As the conversation around breastfeeding support continues to evolve, this research underscores the importance of technological aids like breast pumps. Future studies may explore the long-term health impacts of extended breastfeeding facilitated by pump use, potentially reshaping our understanding of early childhood nutrition and maternal health.
