PRESS CONTACT: Kara Dress, 202-367-2434, marketing@lamaze.org
ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: 800-368-4404; info@lamaze.org

WASHINGTON (August 12, 2008)—Although life with a new baby brings joy and happiness to many families, data collected from more than 900 new mothers in the United States indicates that many women face a broad range of social, emotional, physical health and workplace challenges that often go without support. The Listening to Mothers II Postpartum survey was conducted by Harris Interactive for Childbirth Connection, in partnership with Lamaze International.

The Listening to Mothers II Postpartum survey reached women aged 18-45 who gave birth in a hospital to a single infant in 2005, with the infant still living at the time of the survey. The resulting New Mothers Speak Out, National Survey Results Highlight Women’s Postpartum Experiences report is based on new data from the national Listening to Mothers II Postpartum survey and relevant results from the national Listening to Mothers II survey, which was conducted six months earlier and focused on women’s childbearing experiences. Combined survey results from these landmark surveys provide an in-depth look at women’s postpartum experiences during the first 18 months after giving birth.

Highlights of the New Mothers Speak Out report include:

• Extent to which mothers experienced 26 health conditions as a new problem in the first two months after birth, and extent to which the problems persisted to six months or more
• Net weight gain above mothers' weight just before pregnancy during the first 18 months after birth
• Results of two validated postpartum depression screening tools
• First national data about post-traumatic stress with reference to women's childbirth experience, using a validated screening tool
• Breastfeeding patterns and whether mothers achieved their goals for exclusive breastfeeding and for duration of breastfeeding
• Baby co-sleeping with mother or others in first six months
• How women and their husbands or partners shared child care
• How women rated the support they received from their husbands or partners and from others
• Extent to which women who were employed in pregnancy received paid maternity leave benefits versus their ideal length of paid maternity leave
• Patterns of staying home with baby and transitioning to employment over the first 18 months after birth
• Whether employed women were able to to stay home with their babies as long as they wanted
• Challenges in the transition to employment after birth.

The New Mothers Speak Out, National Survey Results Highlight Women’s Postpartum Experiences report, along with survey questionnaires, details about the survey methodology and related documents, are available at www.childbirthconnection.org/newmothersspeakout.

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About Lamaze International
Since its founding in 1960, Lamaze International has worked to promote, support and protect normal birth through education and advocacy through the dedicated efforts of professional childbirth educators, providers and parents. An international organization with regional, state and area networks, its members and volunteer leaders include childbirth educators, nurses, midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, physicians, students and consumers. For more information about Lamaze International and the Lamaze Institute for Normal Birth, visit www.lamaze.org.

About Childbirth Connection
Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1918 as Maternity Center Association. Their mission is to improve the quality of maternity care through research, education, advocacy and policy. Childbirth Connection is a voice for the needs and interests of childbearing families. More information about Childbirth Connection may be obtained at www.childbirthconnection.org.

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