Psychosocial Experiences Related to Dietary Behavior of Japanese Lactating Women: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Adequate dietary intake during the lactation period is important for breast milk components, postpartum recovery, and physical and mental health. This study aimed to clarify the psychosocial experiences related to dietary behavior around one month postpartum among Japanese lactating women. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 women between February and June 2022 in Osaka, Japan. The data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive approaches. Four core categories were identified. All participants had a [desire to have healthy meals for themselves or their families] to improve their postpartum health, regain their pre-pregnancy body shape, produce sufficient and good-quality breast milk, and keep their families healthy. Some participants, who had [subjective difficulties in getting information on diet and preparing meals] due to insufficient or complicated information and viewing meal preparation as a burden, used [services and support regarding their postpartum diet] to alleviate these difficulties. They had [postpartum-specific appetite and dietary views], including an increased appetite triggered by breastfeeding and postpartum stress and the effects of the dietary changes during pregnancy. Some of these psychosocial experiences were influenced by Japanese traditional customs in the postpartum period and familiar food preferences in the Japanese. Healthcare professionals should consider these experiences when providing tailored dietary guidance.

Galactagogue Food Consumption, Perception of Insufficient Milk Supply, and Exclusive Breastfeeding in Chinese Postpartum Women: An Analysis of Repeated Measures

“…The belief of "medicine-diet homology" in Chinese culture holds the viewpoint of using natural, functional food for healing or good health and limiting the side effects, which may be another factor (Li et al, 2017). Studies in eastern Asia reported similar findings (Chung et al, 2018;Kim et al, 2013;Matsuda et al, 2023). The cultural dietary choices affected by TCM (e.g., the notion of heating and cooling foods) were more general across Asia than in Western medicine (Raman et al, 2016a).…”

“…Rice wine with egg soup is ranked in the top six foods, but consuming an alcohol-based soup might influence the quantity of milk supply (Brown et al, 2018). Some sweet and fatty foods go against losing weight and cause mastitis as well (Matsuda et al, 2023). These explanations are taken mainly from Western medicine, reinforcing the difference from TCM.…”