Expectant parents’ views of factors influencing infant feeding decisions in the antenatal period: A systematic review

Abstract

Objective: To explore the factors that influence expectant parents' infant feeding 5 decisions in the antenatal period. 6Design: Mixed Method Systematic Review focussing on participant views data. 7Data Sources: CINAHL, Medline, Embase and PsychInfo databases were 8 interrogated using initial keywords and then refined terms to elicit relevant studies. 9Reference lists were checked and hand-searching was undertaken for 2 journals 10 ('Midwifery' and 'Social Science and Medicine') covering a 3 year time period

Parental perceptions of hypothermia treatment for neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy

“…[15,16] Breast feeding and skin to skin care are both perceived by parents as important to co-regulate with their infant and development of bonding. [19,20]. The nature of HT treatment and the inability to breast feed as a consequence was perceived by parents as a barrier to successful bonding.…”

Men's views and experiences of infant feeding: A qualitative systematic review

“…Fewer studies adopt qualitative methods that focus on views and experiences of infant feeding more generally, and of those that do, the majority draw on the views and experiences of women rather than involving men directly themselves. The paucity of data on fathers' involvement in breastfeeding was highlighted by Roll and Cheater's () literature review of the factors that influence expectant parents' views on infant feeding. They found only one study that briefly mentioned fathers, and as a result, their findings “principally addresses expectant mothers” views' (Roll & Cheater, : 148).…”

“…The paucity of data on fathers' involvement in breastfeeding was highlighted by Roll and Cheater's () literature review of the factors that influence expectant parents' views on infant feeding. They found only one study that briefly mentioned fathers, and as a result, their findings “principally addresses expectant mothers” views' (Roll & Cheater, : 148). Recent research has highlighted the value of qualitative research methods in understanding infant feeding (Leeming, Marshall, & Locke, ).…”

Key Lessons and Impact of the Growing Healthy mHealth Program on Milk Feeding, Timing of Introduction of Solids, and Infant Growth: Quasi-Experimental Study (Preprint)

“…The average age of infants at the time of enrolment was seven to eight weeks, suggesting that the intervention missed the critical period for breastfeeding support, with national data indicating that 40% of mothers introduce formula by one month of age [14]. Research has also indicated that plans about whether a mother will breastfeed and for how long are made antenatally [42] and this was consistent with our qualitative findings where mothers reported that plans for feeding their infant were made prior to enrolling in the program.…”