Discourses and critiques of breastfeeding and their implications for midwives and health professionals

Abstract

This article is a discussion of the recently emerging critique of pro‐breastfeeding discourses in academic literature, and what this means for midwives and other professionals who find themselves promoting breastfeeding because of professional expectations or indeed workplace policies. Various strands in the debate are explored, starting with dominant and familiar ‘evidence’ and descriptions of breastfeeding and breastmilk that are carried through to international policies that advocate breast over formula feeding. We then consider evidence predominantly from social science literature that has found some women's experiences of infant feeding to be at variance with the dominant pro‐breastfeeding ideology. We argue that midwives and others delivering maternity care are the means to deliver the policy aspirations contained in the World Health Organization (WHO, 2018) Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative document that makes selective positive claims about breastfeeding without adequately considering its potential drawbacks. We conclude that although the benefits of breastfeeding tend to be exaggerated in promotional material, on balance the weight of evidence still favours breast over formula feeding. We challenge the charge that breastfeeding jeopardises women's financial position by arguing that it is not breastfeeding per se that impacts negatively on women's economic prospects, but rather the way in which society is socially organised.

Experiences of Breastfeeding among Disabled Women

“…They articulated feeling intense pressure from health care providers as well as internal stress, as a result of societal expectations and unquestioned knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding over formula feeding. This finding is congruent with Smyth and Hyde (2020), who noted that the breastfeeding experience could be stressful, and difficulty can provoke guilt and a sense of failure. No women in this study reported that any potential drawbacks of breastfeeding were ever presented to them (e.g., physical effort/exertion, the necessity of pumping if away from the infant, the dedication of woman's time, having the sole responsibility for feeding, etc.…”

“…Recently, intense promotion of breastfeeding has come under closer scrutiny, in terms of both the strength of the supporting data and the possibility of unintended consequences from exclusive breastfeeding campaigns (Smyth & Hyde, 2020;Williams, Kurz, Summers, & Crabb, 2012). Studies of the effects of breastfeeding are often correlational and can be confounded by other factors, including socioeconomic status and education level (Boutwell, Young, & Meldrum, 2018;Kramer et al, 2001).…”

“…In interviews with 32 breastfeeding women, Knaak (2010) found that women viewed breastfeeding as a moral imperative and that they perceived that using formula was a risky medical choice associated with lesser mothering. Smyth and Hyde (2020) noted that the empirical support for the benefits of breastfeeding had been exaggerated in health promotion campaigns, and potential costs ignored. This factor, they argue, has decreased the actual choice afforded to women, because formula feeding is negatively evaluated both by the medical community and the public, and the resulting stigma can make it seem an untenable option.…”

Duration of Lactation and Maternal Risk of Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Our results indicate that promotion and sustaining of breastfeeding should be prioritized in follow-up care for women post-pregnancy. Despite a recent discourse paper challenges the promotion and breastfeeding and contests the long-term health benefits [86], our results are in line with emerging evidence, supporting lactation as beneficial for women.…”

Fiziksel Engelli Anneler Arasında Emzirmeyi Destekleyen ve Bariyer Oluşturan Faktörler

“…Bu nedenle fiziksel engelli annelerin emzirme ile ilgili yaşayacağı zorluklar ve çözümler konusunda deneyimli olmak, fiziksel engelli annelerin ihtiyaçlarını ve deneyimlerini anlamak için daha fazla dikkat göstermek, emzirme ile ilgili bilgi düzeylerini ve yeterliliklerini belirlemek ve emzirme deneyimlerini gözlemlememek, doğru ve etkin desteği sağlamak oldukça önemlidir. Sağlık profesyonelleri ve emzirme danışmanları bu kayıtlar, bilgiler ve gözlemler sonucunda fiziksel engelli anneye en doğru ve etkin bilgiyi verebileceklerdir (Byrnes, ve Hickey, 2016;Feldman-Winter, Ustianov, Anastasio, Butts-Dion, Heinrich, Merewood, 2017;Smyth, ve Hyde, 2020). Derleme şeklinde hazırlanan bu makalenin amacı doğum sonu dönemde fiziksel engelli anneler arasında emzirmeyi destekleyen ve bariyer oluşturan faktörleri incelemektir.…”