Cautionary Tales About Extended Breastfeeding and Weaning

Stearns, Cindy A.

doi:10.1080/07399332.2010.540051

Cited by 28 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Research on U.K. women’s experiences of breastfeeding beyond six months, considered long-term in this setting (Faircloth, 2010a, b, 2011; Healthtalkonline, 2011), indicates that similar to the U.S., they experience less support from 6–8 months and increasing attempts at persuasion to wean (Gribble, 2008; Stearns, 2011). In these unsupportive sociocultural situations women often hide breastfeeding (Buckley, 2001; Gribble, 2008; Rempel, 2004).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet a substantial body of research documents that stigmatization remains a powerful barrier to breastfeeding, much of which addresses breastfeeding in public spaces - a focus area of recent breastfeeding activism (Boyer, 2011, 2012; Grant, 2016; Mulready-Ward & Hackett, 2014; Stearns, 2011; Thomson et al, 2015). In this paper we draw on our collective long-term research from the U.S. and U.K to highlight practices that facilitate mothers’ breastfeeding and babies getting breastmilk, yet remain highly controversial: breastmilk sharing, nighttime breastfeeding, and long-term breastfeeding.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Contested moral landscapes: Negotiating breastfeeding stigma in breastmilk sharing, nighttime breastfeeding, and long-term breastfeeding in the U.S. and the U.K.

Tomori

Palmquist

Dowling

2016

Social Science & Medicine

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Recent public health breastfeeding promotion efforts have galvanized media debates about breastfeeding in wealthy, Euro-American settings. A growing body of research demonstrates that while breastfeeding is increasingly viewed as important for health, mothers continue to face significant structural and cultural barriers. Concerns have been raised about the moralizing aspects of breastfeeding promotion and its detrimental effects on those who do not breastfeed. Far less, however, is known about the moral experiences of those who pursue breastfeeding. This study draws together research on breastmilk sharing (2012–2016) and nighttime breastfeeding from the U.S. (2006–2009), and long-term breastfeeding from the U.K. (2008–2009) from three ethnographic projects to address this gap. Comparative analysis of these cases reveals that while breastfeeding is considered ideal infant nutrition, aspects of its practice continue to evoke physical and moral danger, even when these practices are implemented to facilitate breastfeeding. Breastmilk sharing to maintain exclusive breastmilk feeding, nighttime breastfeeding and bedsharing to facilitate breastfeeding, and breastfeeding beyond the accepted duration are considered unnecessary, unhealthy, harmful or even deadly. The sexual connotations of breastfeeding enhance the morally threatening qualities of these practices. The cessation of these “problematic” breastfeeding practices and their replacement with formula-feeding or other foods is viewed as a way to restore the normative social and moral order. Mothers manage the stigmatization of these breastfeeding practices through secrecy and avoidance of health professionals and others who might judge them, often leading to social isolation. Our findings highlight the divide between perceptions of the ideal of breastfeeding and its actual practice and point to the contested moral status of breastfeeding in the U.S. and the U.K. Further comparative ethnographic research is needed to illuminate the lived social and moral experiences of breastfeeding, and inform initiatives to normalize and support its practice without stigmatizing parents who do not breastfeed.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contested moral landscapes: Negotiating breastfeeding stigma in breastmilk sharing, nighttime breastfeeding, and long-term breastfeeding in the U.S. and the U.K.

Tomori

Palmquist

Dowling

2016

Social Science & Medicine

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“…For instance, the mean age to terminate any breastfeeding was 18.3 months, which is in agreement with previous research suggesting that people tend to underestimate the recommended total time for any breastfeeding (Fairbrother & Stanger‐Ross, ; Rempel & Rempel, ). Although not explored explicitly in this study, social disapproval of breastfeeding older infants and toddlers has been well documented (Cockerham‐Colas, Geer, Benker, & Joseph, ; Dowling & Brown, ; Newman & Williamson, ; Rempel, ; Stearns, ). Low awareness and potentially low acceptance of the recommendation to continue breastfeeding for toddlers may be contributing to reduced adherence to the recommendation for continued breastfeeding for 2 years and beyond.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although not explored explicitly in this study, social disapproval of breastfeeding older infants and toddlers has been well documented (Cockerham-Colas, Geer, Benker, & Joseph, 2012;Dowling & Brown, 2013;Newman & Williamson, 2018;Rempel, 2004;Stearns, 2011).…”

Section: Iycf Knowledge Deficitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

High confidence, yet poor knowledge of infant feeding recommendations among adults in Nova Scotia, Canada

Chan

Whitfield

2019

Maternal & Child Nutrition

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In Canada, adherence to the national ‘Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants' recommendations of infant and young child feeding (IYCF; 0‐24 months) is suboptimal. While maternal knowledge of IYCF is commonly assessed, that of the general public has rarely been explored. Our objective was to assess the knowledge of, and confidence in answers to, Canadian IYCF recommendations among a diverse sample of adults in Nova Scotia, Canada. Between March and May 2018, a self‐administered questionnaire examining IYCF knowledge, self‐rated confidence, and sociodemographic information was conducted among Nova Scotians (≥19 years) in public locations. We surveyed 229 adults; 60% (n=134) were women. Mean (95% CI) age was 44 (41,46) years, 73% self‐identified as white, 77% were born in Canada, and 69% were parents. Knowledge deficits were: age to terminate breastfeeding (18.3 (16.7,19.9) months; recommendation: ≥24 months), age to introduce solids (9.2 (8.2,10.2) months; recommendation: 6 months), vitamin D supplementation (10% correct), and optimal complementary foods (only 37% indicated iron‐rich foods). Correct IYCF knowledge was lower among men, non‐parents, young adults (19‐29 years) and low‐income adults (<$50,000/year). Mean self‐rated confidence (out of 10) was high (7.2 (6.9,7.5)), and not different (p>0.05) between correct and incorrect responses for: best food for a newborn, age to terminate any breastfeeding, and age to start family meal foods. We found low knowledge of IYCF guidelines, yet high confidence in responses regardless of accuracy, among adults in Nova Scotia. General public knowledge deficits may contribute to an unsupportive culture around IYCF practices and low adherence to current recommendations.

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“…In the process, they encounter inconsistent views from people around them. 41,42 Working and student mothers face this challenge daily and need a support system that facilitates breast milk expression to achieve their breastfeeding goals. 13 Having infrastructure in place that improves a woman's asset score can increase the support effort further.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examination of Maternal Assets and Breast Milk Expression

Bai

Dinour

2019

JBFB

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The proportion of mothers in the workforce has increased over the past 40 years. Examination of factors associated with a working/student mother's milk expression is needed to provide effective lactation support. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of maternal assets in the relationships between the theory constructs, intention, and behavior of breast milk expression. Using a cross-sectional design framed under the theory of planned behavior, all female personnel associated with a higher education institute in northern New Jersey were invited to participate in the online survey, Milk Expression on Campus. Attitude toward breast milk expression, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, intention, and behavior of breast milk expression on campus as well as maternal assets such as income, education, living status, and campus role were measured. Maternal assets had no moderation role but showed a significant and meaningful mediation effect on the relationship between perceived behavioral control and the intention to express breast milk on campus, with effect size R 2 =3.59%, 95% CI [-.1061, -.0047]. There was no mediation effect of the asset on the relationship between intention and the behavior of breast milk expression, 95% CI [-.0984, .0232]. Future breastfeeding support and promotion may direct its attention to provide systematic social and clinical support to enhance working/student maternal assets, e.g. family education, access to lactation services, or peer-based support programs, thereby helping mothers achieve their breastfeeding goals.

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Cautionary Tales About Extended Breastfeeding and Weaning

Cited by 28 publications

References 32 publications

Contested moral landscapes: Negotiating breastfeeding stigma in breastmilk sharing, nighttime breastfeeding, and long-term breastfeeding in the U.S. and the U.K.

Contested moral landscapes: Negotiating breastfeeding stigma in breastmilk sharing, nighttime breastfeeding, and long-term breastfeeding in the U.S. and the U.K.

High confidence, yet poor knowledge of infant feeding recommendations among adults in Nova Scotia, Canada

Examination of Maternal Assets and Breast Milk Expression

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