Characteristics of the mothers (n=127) who participated in the 22 focus groups or 19 interviews
| Mothers characteristics | n | (%) | Mean±SD |
| Feeding preference before birth | |||
| Breast | 120 | 94.5 | |
| Formula | 7 | 5.5 | |
| Previously breastfed* | 57 | 44.9 | |
| Maternal age (years) | 29±5.9 | ||
| 15–24 | 33 | 26.0 | |
| 25–29 | 30 | 23.6 | |
| 30–34 | 39 | 30.7 | |
| 35 or older | 25 | 19.7 | |
| Parity | 2±0.9 | ||
| Pregnant at time of study | 2 | 1.6 | |
| One (given birth once) | 6 | 4.7 | |
| Two or more | 119 | 93.7 | |
| Method of delivery | |||
| Spontaneous vaginal delivery | 70 | 55.1 | |
| Assisted delivery† | 16 | 12.6 | |
| Caesarean (elective/emergency)‡ | 41 | 32.3 | |
| Maternal smoking | 24 | 18.9 | |
| Living arrangements | |||
| Living with father of the child (de facto or married) | 103 | 81.1 | |
| Single parent | 24 | 18.9 | |
| Current occupation | |||
| Professional | 40 | 31.5 | |
| Clerical/admin or service/sales | 19 | 15.0 | |
| Home duties/self employed | 45 | 35.4 | |
| Student or unemployed | 23 | 18.1 | |
| Mothers employment status | |||
| Full time | 75 | 59.1 | |
| Part time/casual | 39 | 30.7 | |
| Student | 13 | 10.2 | |
| SEIFA quintiles§ | |||
| Quintile 1 (most disadvantaged) | 48 | 37.8 | |
| Quintile 2 | 10 | 7.9 | |
| Quintile 3 | 21 | 16.5 | |
| Quintile 4 | 27 | 21.3 | |
| Quintile 5 (least disadvantaged) | 21 | 16.5 | |
| Education status | |||
| Bachelor degree/higher | 54 | 42.5 | |
| Diploma/certificate | 41 | 32.3 | |
| Year 12 or below | 32 | 25.2 | |
| Country of birth | |||
| Australia | 119 | 93.7 | |
| Overseas | 8 | 6.3 | |
Values are in n (%) mean ±SD.
*Previously breastfed: any breastfeeding irrespective of length of time (hours, days, weeks or months).
†Vaginal delivery by forceps or ventouse.
‡Caesarean: combined emergency and elective caesarean delivery! #Multiple birth =×6 twin ×1 triplet.
§SEIFA quintiles: Socio-Economic Index for Areas Instrumental.