When queried about formula use in the hospital, 40% of the participants stated their baby received formula. Mothers who had cesarean births were significantly more likely to have a baby that received formula in the hospital compared to those who had a vaginal birth, X2 (1, N = 407) = 30.57, p < .001. Characterisitics of mothers who were more likely to use formula in the hospital included:
- first baby
- cesarean birth.
- not performing skin-to-skin contact the first hour after birth, and
- more than 2 hours before initiating breastfeeding for the first time.