Carrying out the intention to breast-feed was assessed in 185 mothers divided into four groups according to whether labour was spontaneous, with or without oxytocin augmentation, or induced, either by their own choice or on the advice of their obstetrician. Intention to breast-feed was abandoned most frequently by women in whom labour had been electively induced. As the difference with the other groups could not be explained by obstetric factors, it is concluded that motivational factors may have played a part.