Full Citation

Title: The Effect of Hospital Postpartum Care Regulations on Breastfeeding and Maternal Time Allocation

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2023

ISBN:

ISSN: 1945-7782

DOI: 10.1257/APP.20220201

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: We study the effects of state hospital regulations intended to increase breastfeeding by requiring certain standards of care during the immediate postpartum hospital stay. We find that these regulations significantly increased breastfeeding initiation by 3.8 percentage points (5.1 percent) and the probability of breastfeeding at 3 and 6 months postpartum by approximately 7 percent. We also provide evidence that these breastfeeding-promoting policies significantly increased maternal time spent on child care, crowding out time spent on formal work. Observed reductions in employment are concentrated among mothers with infants between zero and three months of age.

Url: https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/app.20220201

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Lawler, Emily C.; Yewell, Katherine G.

Periodical (Full): American Economic Journal: Applied Economics

Issue: 4

Volume: 15

Pages: 477-513

Data Collections: IPUMS CPS

Topics: Reproductive and Sexual Health, Work, Family, and Time

Countries: