Breastfeeding Success and Expectations for More Children

Vida Maralani , Cornell University

In this study, I show how symbolic success in childrearing can cause women to increase their fertility intentions. Prior research shows that women who breastfeed for longer durations have more children overall than women who breastfeed for shorter durations. Using a life course approach, I examine the fertility intentions of women based on how long they breastfeed their firstborn. Although women do not differ in their fertility intentions before the start of childbearing based on how long they breastfeed their firstborn (when they finally have that child), women who breastfeed for longer durations systematically increase their fertility intentions in the year that they have their firstborn. Succeeding at breastfeeding may serve as a signal that women can fulfill the cultural and “expert-driven” expectations of modern intensive parenting. Given this signal of success, women increase how many children they expect to have.

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 Presented in Session 210. Flash Session: Recent Trends in Fertility and Contraception in the United States