The adult-child relationship in breastfeeding and development: a Merleau-Pontian perspective on the existential and social conflicts in childrearing

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

2021

Background Worldwide, only 41 % of infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months while South Africa has an alarming figure of only 12 %. First-time mothers are inexperienced in the initiation and maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding, hence a need for support. Data on forms and quality of exclusive breastfeeding support as experienced by first-time mothers is minimal. The study explored the exclusive breastfeeding support available to first-time mothers in the Buffalo City Metro, South Africa. Methods A qualitative explorative, descriptive and contextual study, and a non-probability, purposive sampling was used with 10 first-time mothers within the first six months postpartum. The in-depth face-to-face semi-structured individual interviews for data collection and Creswell’s steps of thematic analysis were used. Results Two themes emerged; challenges, empowerment, support and resilience during initiation of exclusive breastfeeding, and diverse support and resilience during maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding. First-time mothers received practical support majorly from nurses and other mothers during the initiation; social support was from family members, friends, and community members for the maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding. Sometimes there was a disjuncture between practical support from nurses and that from family members and the community. There were instances where the support was needed but not given or not supportive of exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusions These findings illustrate that professional, practical and social support for first-time mothers is crucial in the initiation and maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Timing and the kind of support given to these mothers is crucial for successful exclusive breastfeeding.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“The kind of support that matters to exclusive breastfeeding” a qualitative study

Theodorah

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

2021

“…Also, socio-cultural issues may cause the support from nurses, family, and community members to contrast leading to confusion and frustration (34,35). Social con icts involve the pressure the society put on mothers who fail to succeed in breastfeeding, even though breastfeeding does not always come naturally as portrayed to be (36). Nurses and society need to support mothers to succeed in breastfeeding rather than labeling them as good or bad depending on their feeding method.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“The kind of support that matters to exclusive breastfeeding” a qualitative study

Dasheka

2020

Preprint

Abstract Background Worldwide, only 41% of infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months while South Africa has an alarming figure of only 12%. First-time mothers are inexperienced in the initiation and maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding, hence a need for support. Data on forms and quality of exclusive breastfeeding support as experienced by first-time mothers is minimal. The study explored the exclusive breastfeeding support available to the first time mothers in the Buffalo City Metro, South Africa. Methods A qualitative explorative, descriptive and contextual study, and a non-probability, purposive sampling was used with 10 first-time mothers within the first six months postpartum. The in-depth face-to-face semi-structured individual interviews for data collection and Creswell’s steps of thematic analysis was used. Results Two themes emerged; challenges, empowerment, support and resilience during initiation of exclusive breastfeeding, and diverse support and resilience during maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding. First-time mothers received practical support majorly from nurses and other mothers during the initiation; social support was from family members, friends, and community members for the maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding. Sometimes there was a disjuncture between practical support from nurses and that from family members and community. There were instances where the support was needed but not given or not supportive of exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion These findings illustrate that professional, practical and social support for first-time mothers is crucial in the initiation and maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Timing and the kind of support given to these mothers is crucial for successful exclusive breastfeeding.

“…Also, socio-cultural issues may cause the support from nurses, family, and community members to contrast leading to confusion and frustration (34,35). Social con icts involve the pressure the society put on mothers who fail to succeed in breastfeeding, even though breastfeeding does not always come naturally as portrayed to be (32). Nurses and society need to support mothers to succeed in breastfeeding rather than labelling them as good or bad depending on their feeding method.…”

Section: Support and Resilience During Ebf Maintenancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The need to meet the existential needs, such as stopping suffering caused by pain during breastfeeding or baby's weight loss associated with insu cient breastmilk supply against social con icts (32). Furthermore, the social con icts through the pressure the society put on mothers, where breastfeeding is portrayed more natural than what it is.…”

Section: Support and Resilience During Ebf Maintenancementioning

confidence: 99%

“The kind of support that matters to exclusive breastfeeding” a qualitative study

Dasheka

2020

Preprint

Background Worldwide, only 41% of infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months while South Africa has an alarming figure of only 12%. First-time mothers are inexperienced in the initiation and maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding, hence a need for support. Data on forms and quality of exclusive breastfeeding support as experienced by first-time mothers is minimal. The study explored the exclusive breastfeeding support available to first-time mothers in the Buffalo City Metro, South Africa.Methods A qualitative explorative, descriptive and contextual study, and a non-probability, purposive sampling was used with 10 first-time mothers within the first six months postpartum. The in-depth face-to-face semi-structured individual interviews for data collection and Creswell's steps of thematic analysis were used.Results Two themes emerged; challenges, empowerment, support and resilience during initiation of exclusive breastfeeding, and diverse support and resilience during maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding. First- time mothers received practical support majorly from nurses and other mothers during the initiation; social support was from family members, friends, and community members for the maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding. Sometimes there was a disjuncture between practical support from nurses and that from family members and community. There were instances where the support was needed but not given or not supportive of exclusive breastfeeding.Conclusion These findings illustrate that professional, practical and social support for first-time mothers is crucial in the initiation and maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Timing and the kind of support given to these mothers is crucial for successful exclusive breastfeeding.