A serial qualitative interview study of infant feeding experiences: idealism meets realism

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the infant feeding experiences of women and their significant others from pregnancy until 6 months after birth to establish what would make a difference.DesignQualitative serial interview study.SettingTwo health boards in Scotland.Participants72 of 541 invited pregnant women volunteered. 220 interviews approximately every 4 weeks with 36 women, 26 partners, eight maternal mothers, one sister and two health professionals took place.ResultsThe overarching theme was a clash between overt or covert infant feeding idealism and the reality experienced. This is manifest as pivotal points where families perceive that the only solution that will restore family well-being is to stop breast feeding or introduce solids. Immediate family well-being is the overriding goal rather than theoretical longer term health benefits. Feeding education is perceived as unrealistic, overly technical and rules based which can undermine women's confidence. Unanimously families would prefer the balance to shift away from antenatal theory towards more help immediately after birth and at 3–4 months when solids are being considered. Family-orientated interactive discussions are valued above breastfeeding-centred checklist style encounters.ConclusionsAdopting idealistic global policy goals like exclusive breast feeding until 6 months as individual goals for women is unhelpful. More achievable incremental goals are recommended. Using a proactive family-centred narrative approach to feeding care might enable pivotal points to be anticipated and resolved. More attention to the diverse values, meanings and emotions around infant feeding within families could help to reconcile health ideals with reality.

Socially sensitive lactation: Exploring the social context of breastfeeding

“…Alongside this, bottle-feeding was often viewed as enabling others to bond with the baby and to care for the mother. Therefore, as found by Hoddinott et al (2012), general family well-being was sometimes prioritised over breastfeeding. However, this theme also illustrates the multi-layered process by which the participants made sense of the links between caring, feeding and bonding.…”

“…There are some notable exceptions to these general patterns in the literature, where breastfeeding has been examined in the context of interactions and relationships with key others, with the conclusion that breastfeeding meanings, expectations and practices are mutually negotiated (Dykes, 2006;Hauck & Irurita, 2002, in the context of the varied demands of daily living on mothers and their significant others (Hoddinott, et al, 2012;Lavender et al, 2006). Several studies, have also examined experiences of breastfeeding in the context of wider cultural discourses and norms, in particular relating to sexuality, autonomy and ideas about what is 'natural' (e.g.…”

“…This is despite widespread recognition among parents of the nutritional and immunological benefits of human milk and the initial intention of many women to breastfeed for longer than they do (Bolling et al, 2007). In trying to understand why more infants do not receive breast milk for the recommended time period, there is growing recognition of the importance of examining the context in which breastfeeding becomes established or breaks down (Hoddinott, Craig, Britten, & McInnes, 2012). Decisions about infant feeding take place within a family and social network against a backdrop of cultural ambivalence in Western societies about the symbolic meaning of breasts and the presence of social structures which make it challenging for mothers to combine breastfeeding with other roles (Carter, 1995;Kukla, 2006).…”

Exploring Maternal Perceptions of Infant Sleep and Feeding Method Among Mothers in the United Kingdom: A Qualitative Focus Group Study

“…Against a contradictory backdrop of strong support for breastfeeding from the health system and extremely low exclusive breastfeeding rates, UK women's decisions about infant feeding reflect the competing priorities in their lives (Hoddinott, Craig, Britten, & McInnes, 2012;Tully & Ball, 2013). Achieving adequate sleep is one such priority.…”

“It's like giving him a piece of me.”: Exploring UK and Israeli women's accounts of motherhood and feeding

“…2009) and, Watkins, Meltzer-Brody, Zolnoun, and Stuebe (2011) noted that women with negative early breastfeeding experiences were more likely to have depressive symptoms at two months postpartum, which has been associated with a negative experience of motherhood (Leahy-Warren, McCarthy, & Corcoran, 2012). Hoddinott, Craig, Britten, and McInnes (2012) addressed maternal feeding experience in 220 interviews with breastfeeding mothers in the UK. Findings suggest that there is a clash between the idealism of breastfeeding and the reality of breastfeeding, which is stressful, challenging and disappointing for many women, Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusively breastfeeding in the first six months, this is an unreal-istic goal for many women, and often contributes to a strong and enduring sense of failure.…”