Helpful and challenging aspects of breastfeeding in public for women living in Australia, Ireland and Sweden: a cross-sectional study

Hauck, Yvonne; Kuliukas, Lesley; Gallagher, Louise; Brady, Vivienne; Dykes, Charlotta; Rubertsson, Christine

doi:10.1186/s13006-020-00281-0

Cited by 22 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…There are large inequalities in infant feeding experience along structural lines in the UK and similar HIC (Victora et al, 2016), contributing to socioeconomic gradients in inflammation and infant weight (McDade & Koning, 2021). These inequalities exist due to cultural and religious norms around breastfeeding, particularly in public (Chang et al, 2021), access to social support (Grubesic & Durbin, 2020;Tomori, 2009), opportunity costs of breastfeeding (Hough et al, 2018;Tully & Ball, 2018), as well having convenient and quickto-access places to breastfeed (Brown et al, 2020;Hauck et al, 2020). Furthermore, the experience of breastfeeding problems is unlikely to be evenly distributed as one study found that young, unmarried and non-college educated US women were more likely to experience breastfeeding problems resulting in disrupted lactation (Stuebe et al, 2014).…”

Section: Hypothesis 3: the Type Of Support Impacts The Moderating Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing the buffering hypothesis: breastfeeding problems, cessation and social support in the UK

Page¹,

Emmott²,

Myers³

2020

Preprint

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Objectives: Physical breastfeeding problems can lead women to terminate breastfeeding earlier than planned. In high-income countries, breastfeeding problems have been attributed to the cultural and individual “inexperience” of breastfeeding, ultimately leading to lower breastfeeding rates. Yet, cross-cultural evidence suggests breastfeeding problems still occur in contexts where breastfeeding is common, prolonged and seen publicly. This suggests breastfeeding problems are not unusual and do not necessarily lead to breastfeeding cessation. Having evolved a cooperative childrearing system, what matters for breastfeeding continuation may be the availability of social support during the postnatal period. Here, we test the hypothesis that social support buffers mothers from the negative impact breastfeeding problems have on duration. Methods: We run cox models on a sample of 566 UK mothers who completed a retrospective online survey about infant feeding and social support in 2017-2018. Results: Breastfeeding problems were important predictors of cessation; however, the direction of the effect was dependent on the type of problem. These relationships were also moderated by informational, practical and emotional support from a range of supporters. Helpful support for discomfort issues (blocked ducts, too much milk) significantly reduced the hazard of cessation, as predicted. However, helpful support for reported milk insufficiency increased the hazard of cessation. Conclusions: Experiencing breastfeeding problems is the norm, but its impact may be mitigated via social support. Working from an interdisciplinary approach, our results highlight that a wide range of supporters who provide different types of support have potential to influence maternal breastfeeding experience.

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Section: Hypothesis 3: the Type Of Support Impacts The Moderating Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing the buffering hypothesis: breastfeeding problems, cessation and social support in the UK

Page¹,

Emmott²,

Myers³

2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There are large inequalities in infant feeding experience along structural lines in the UK and similar HIC (Victora et al, 2016), contributing to socioeconomic gradients in inflammation and infant weight (McDade & Koning, 2021). These inequalities exist due to cultural and religious norms around breastfeeding, particularly in public (Chang et al, 2021), access to social support (Grubesic & Durbin, 2020; Tomori, 2009), opportunity costs of breastfeeding (Hough et al, 2018; Tully & Ball, 2018), as well having convenient and quick‐to‐access places to breastfeed (Brown et al, 2020; Hauck et al, 2020). Furthermore, the experience of breastfeeding problems is unlikely to be evenly distributed as one study found that young, unmarried and non‐college educated US women were more likely to experience breastfeeding problems resulting in disrupted lactation (Stuebe et al, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing the buffering hypothesis: Breastfeeding problems, cessation, and social support in the UK

2021

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Objectives Physical breastfeeding problems can lead women to terminate breastfeeding earlier than planned. In high‐income countries such as the UK, breastfeeding problems have been attributed to the cultural and individual “inexperience” of breastfeeding, ultimately leading to lower breastfeeding rates. Yet, cross‐cultural evidence suggests breastfeeding problems still occur in contexts where breastfeeding is common, prolonged, and seen publicly. This suggests breastfeeding problems are not unusual and do not necessarily lead to breastfeeding cessation. As humans evolved to raise children cooperatively, what matters for breastfeeding continuation may be the availability of social support during the postnatal period. Here, we test the hypothesis that social support buffers mothers from the negative impact breastfeeding problems have on duration. Methods We run Cox models on a sample of 565 UK mothers who completed a retrospective online survey about infant feeding and social support in 2017–2018. Results Breastfeeding problems were important predictors of cessation; however, the direction of the effect was dependent on the problem type and type of support from a range of supporters. Helpful support for discomfort issues (blocked ducts, too much milk) was significantly associated with reduced hazards of cessation, as predicted. However, helpful support for reported milk insufficiency was assoicated with an increased hazard of cessation. Conclusions Experiencing breastfeeding problems is the norm, but its impact may be mitigated via social support. Working from an interdisciplinary approach, our results highlight that a wide range of supporters who provide different types of support have potential to influence maternal breastfeeding experience.

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“…Contrastingly, some partners (Alianmoghaddam et al, 2017;Hauck et al, 2020;Leeming et al, 2013;Majee et al, 2017;Owens et al, 2018;Pallotti, 2016;Shortt et al, 2013;Swigart et al, 2017), family members (Alianmoghaddam et al, 2017;Hauck et al, 2020;Majee et al, 2017;Schafer et al, 2019;Sheehan et al, 2019), and friends (Alianmoghaddam et al, 2017;Chopel et al, 2019;DeMaria et al, 2020;Hauck et al, 2020;Schafer et al, 2019) were supportive of breastfeeding in public. Staff working in public places both encouraged (Hauck et al, 2020;Mathews, 2018;Schmied et al, 2019) and discouraged (Chopel et al, 2019;Mathews, 2018;McKenzie et al, 2018) breastfeeding in public.…”

Section: Social Environment: Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Negative beliefs associated with breastfeeding in public translated into individual mothers being discouraged from breastfeeding in public by partners (Dayton et al, 2019;Isherwood et al, 2019;Sheehan et al, 2019;Stav, 2019) and family (Isherwood et al, 2019;Newman & Williamson, 2018;Prendergast & James, 2016;Sheehan et al, 2019;Stav, 2019). Contrastingly, some partners (Alianmoghaddam et al, 2017;Hauck et al, 2020;Leeming et al, 2013;Majee et al, 2017;Owens et al, 2018;Pallotti, 2016;Shortt et al, 2013;Swigart et al, 2017), family members (Alianmoghaddam et al, 2017;Hauck et al, 2020;Majee et al, 2017;Schafer et al, 2019;Sheehan et al, 2019), and friends (Alianmoghaddam et al, 2017;Chopel et al, 2019;DeMaria et al, 2020;Hauck et al, 2020;Schafer et al, 2019) were supportive of breastfeeding in public. Staff working in public places both encouraged (Hauck et al, 2020;Mathews, 2018;Schmied et al, 2019) and discouraged (Chopel et al, 2019;Mathews, 2018;McKenzie et al, 2018) breastfeeding in public.…”

Section: Social Environment: Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Embarrassed (Battersby, 2007;Boyer, 2012;Brouwer et al, 2012;DeMaria et al, 2020;Dyson et al, 2010;Eni et al, 2014;Forster & McLachlan, 2010;Gallegos et al, 2015;Grant et al, 2017;Hauck et al, 2020;Helps & Barclay, 2015;Hinson, et al, 2018;Leahy-Warren et al, 2017;Nesbitt et al, 2012;Owens et al, 2018;Pallotti, 2016;Prendergast & James, 2016;Robinson & VandeVusse, 2011;Sheehan, et al, 2019;Shortt et al, 2013;Stav, 2019;Swigart et al, 2017).…”

Section: Negativeunclassified

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Views and experience of breastfeeding in public: A qualitative systematic review

Grant

Pell

Copeland

et al. 2022

Maternal & Child Nutrition

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Breastfeeding rates in many Global North countries are low. Qualitative research highlights that breastfeeding in public is a particular challenge, despite mothers often having the legal right to do so. To identify barriers and facilitators, we systematically searched the qualitative research from Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development countries relating to breastfeeding in public spaces from 2007 to 2021. Data were analysed using the Thematic Synthesis technique. The review was registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42017081504). Database searching identified 3570 unique records. In total, 74 papers, theses, or book chapters, relating to 71 studies, were included, accounting for over 17,000 mothers. Overall, data quality was high. Our analysis identified that five core factors influenced mothers' thought processes and their breastfeeding in public behaviour: legal system; structural (in)equality; knowledge; beliefs and the social environment. Macro‐level factors relating to legislation and inequality urgently require redress if breastfeeding rates are to be increased. Widespread culture change is also required to enhance knowledge, change hostile beliefs and thus the social environment in which mother/infant dyads exist. In particular, the sexualisation of breasts, disgust narratives and lack of exposure among observers to baby‐led infant feeding patterns resulted in beliefs which created a stigmatising environment. In this context, many mothers felt unable to breastfeed in public; those who breastfed outside the home were usually highly self‐aware, attempting to reduce their exposure to conflict. Evidence‐based theoretically informed interventions to remove barriers to breastfeeding in public are urgently required.

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Helpful and challenging aspects of breastfeeding in public for women living in Australia, Ireland and Sweden: a cross-sectional study

Cited by 22 publications

References 33 publications

Testing the buffering hypothesis: breastfeeding problems, cessation and social support in the UK

Testing the buffering hypothesis: breastfeeding problems, cessation and social support in the UK

Testing the buffering hypothesis: Breastfeeding problems, cessation, and social support in the UK

Views and experience of breastfeeding in public: A qualitative systematic review

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