Aims: The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention involving fathers on breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding rate, and to explore mothers' perceptions of their partners' support of breastfeeding. Materials and Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with two groups. A convenience sample consisting of 72 expectant mothers was recruited. Thirty-six women with their partners were assigned to the intervention group, and 36 women alone were in the control group. Both groups were offered similar education contents, and the intervention group was given additional information on how fathers could support their partners, both emotionally and physically, during the breastfeeding process. Student's t test, chi-square test, and Mann–Whitney U test were used to detect group differences. Results: The prevalence rates of exclusive breastfeeding at 4 months and 6 months of the intervention group were significantly higher than there were in the control group (51.4% and 26.4%, p = 0.034; 40.0% and 17.6%, p = 0.041). Women in the intervention group were less likely to use infant formula at 1 and 6 months postpartum (5.6% and 23.5%, p = 0.032; 20.0% and 44.1%, p = 0.032). Related to the process of breastfeeding, partners in the intervention group supported their partners by taking care of the infant, doing housework, and providing emotional support. Conclusions: Involving the fathers in breastfeeding education could improve the exclusive breastfeeding rate and prolong the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. The mothers appreciated support from the fathers.

Background: Suboptimal breastfeeding, a major factor of maternal and child morbidity and mortality, has been reported around the world. Maternal weight status, as a significant variable influencing breastfeeding outcomes, needs to be studied sufficiently. Objective: This review is to explore the effect of different prepregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain (GWG) categories on breastfeeding initiation and cessation. Methods: Cohort studies were systematically searched in Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and CINAHL databases from database establishment to February 2019. Summary risk ratio (RR) on breastfeeding initiation and cessation was estimated with the use of a random-effects model. Results: Thirty cohort studies were included in meta-analysis. Prepregnancy obesity was a risk factor for breastfeeding initiation (RR 1.49, 95% CI [1.33–1.67]), exclusive and any breastfeeding (ABF) duration (RR 1.26, 95% CI [1.17–1.36]; RR 1.34 95% CI [1.16–1.56]). Inadequate GWG was a risk factor for breastfeeding initiation (RR 1.27, 95% CI [1.08–1.49]). Excessive GWG was a risk factor for ABF duration when women were prepregnancy overweight and obese (RR 1.42 95% CI [1.32–1.53]; RR 1.89 95% CI [1.13–3.17]). Conclusion: If women are obese before pregnancy or gain excessive/inadequate weight during pregnancy, they are less likely to initiate and continue breastfeeding according to recommendation time. Hence, guidance about proper weight management to reproductive age women and consultation about recommended GWG to pregnant women should be fully implemented to improve breastfeeding practices. Besides, future research needs to find out the association between prepregnancy underweight status and breastfeeding outcomes.