[Smoking, alcohol and caffeine consumption of mothers before, during and after pregnancy--results of the study 'breast-feeding habits in Bavaria'].

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this analysis of the study 'Breast-feeding habits in Bavaria' is to describe the smoking habits, alcohol and caffeine consumption of mothers in Bavaria before, during and after pregnancy. Furthermore, we asked about the environmental tabacco smoke exposition of pregnant women and infants. The influence of consumption habits on breast-feeding is quantified and the distribution of the risky habits in the population is characterised.

METHODS: The study 'Breast-feeding habits in Bavaria' is a prospective cohort study which was carried out from April 2005 to January 2006. Some 3 822 mothers throughout Bavaria who had delivered a baby in April 2005 participated in the basic survey. Methods and first results have already been published. The participants were asked in 4 follow-up questionnaires about breast-feeding habits, smoking habits, and alcohol and caffeine consumption. The follow-up rate was 82%. Only participants with a complete follow-up were included into this analysis (n=3 103).

RESULTS: Some 23.7% of the mothers smoked before pregnancy. The percentage of women reporting any smoking during pregnancy was 9.8%. More than half (53%) of the ex-smokers started to smoke again up to the end of month 9 after delivery. 25.3% of the mothers reported any alcohol consumption during pregnancy, 69.0% of pregnant women were drinking caffeine-containing beverages. The consumption rates were reduced clearly during pregnancy. Smoking had a higher prevalence in the group of young women with low school education, alcohol consumption in the group of elder women with high school education. Mothers born in Germany smoked significantly more than mothers with a migration background. Smoking had a significant, dose-dependent negative influence on a breast-feeding duration of <4 full months exclusive breast-feeding (1-5 cigarettes/day, odds ratio (OR) 2.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31-3.18; >5 cigarettes/day, OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.42-4.54). Caffeine consumption also had a significant negative influence on the breast-feeding duration (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.25-1.79), whereas alcohol consumption did not.

CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption, smoking and coffee consumption are common in the population of pregnant women. Apart from established preventive initiatives, additional measures focussed on young pregnant women with low school education can lower smoking rates in this risk group. More attention should be given to the topic alcohol consumption in pregnancy.