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To determine whether the duration of breastfeeding is affected by the contents of the hospital discharge package.

A randomized clinical trial with 2 experimental interventions (a discharge package containing a manual breast pump only and a discharge package containing a commercially prepared infant formula and a manual breast pump) and a control group who received a commercially prepared infant formula discharge package only. Sociodemographic characteristics and information concerning prior births (including feeding methods) were obtained from each mother within 48 hours of her infant's birth. Sources of influence on the mother's feeding decision, maternal attitudes concerning breastfeeding, and maternal feeding preferences were also assessed.

The sample consisted of 763 women who had given birth who were admitted to the maternal-fetal unit of a midwestern …