‘Surely you’re not still breastfeeding’: a qualitative exploration of women’s experiences of breastfeeding beyond infancy in the UK

ObjectivesTo explore women’s experiences of breastfeeding beyond infancy (>1 year). Understanding these experiences, including the motivators, enablers and barriers faced, may help inform future strategies to support and facilitate mothers to breastfeed for an optimal duration.DesignAn exploratory qualitative study using an interpretive approach. Nineteen semistructured interviews were conducted (in person, via phone or Skype), transcribed and thematically analysed using the framework method.SettingParticipants drawn from across the UK through online breastfeeding support groups.ParticipantsMaximum variation sample of women currently breastfeeding a child older than 1 year, or who had done so in the previous 5 years. Participants were included if over 18, able to speak English at conversational level and resident in the UK.ResultsThe findings offer insights into the challenges faced by women breastfeeding older children, including perceived social and cultural barriers. Three core themes were interpreted: (1) parenting philosophy; (2) breastfeeding beliefs; (3) transition from babyhood to toddlerhood. Women had not intended to breastfeed beyond infancy prior to delivery, but developed a ‘child-led’ approach to parenting and internalised strong beliefs that breastfeeding is the biological norm. Women perceived a negative shift in approval for continued breastfeeding as their child transitioned from ‘baby’ to ‘toddler’. This compelled woman to conceal breastfeeding and fostered a reluctance to seek advice from healthcare professionals. Mothers reported feeling pressured to breastfeed when their babies were young, but discouraged as children grew. They identified best with the term ‘natural-term breastfeeding’.ConclusionsThis study suggests that providing antenatal education regarding biological weaning ages and promotion of guidelines for optimum breastfeeding duration may encourage more women to breastfeed for longer. Promoting the concept of natural-term breastfeeding to mothers, and healthcare professionals, employers and the public is necessary to normalise and encourage acceptance of breastfeeding beyond infancy.

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Using liminality to understand mothers’ experiences of long-term breastfeeding: ‘Betwixt and between’, and ‘matter out of place’

Health An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health Illness and Medicine ◽

10.1177/1363459315595846 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 57-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Sally Dowling ◽

David Pontin

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Support Groups ◽

Participant Observation ◽

National Policy ◽

Breastfeeding Initiation ◽

Breastfeeding Support ◽

Women’S Experiences ◽

Women's Experiences ◽

The United Kingdom

Breastmilk is widely considered as the optimum nutrition source for babies and an important factor in both improving public health and reducing health inequalities. Current international/national policy supports long-term breastfeeding. UK breastfeeding initiation rates are high but rapidly decline, and the numbers breastfeeding in the second year and beyond are unknown. This study used the concept of liminality to explore the experiences of a group of women breastfeeding long-term in the United Kingdom, building on Mahon-Daly and Andrews. Over 80 breastfeeding women were included within the study, which used micro-ethnographic methods (participant observation in breastfeeding support groups, face-to-face interviews and online asynchronous interviews via email). Findings about women’s experiences are congruent with the existing literature, although it is mostly dated and from outside the United Kingdom. Liminality was found to be useful in providing insight into women’s experiences of long-term breastfeeding in relation to both time and place. Understanding women’s experience of breastfeeding beyond current usual norms can be used to inform work with breastfeeding mothers and to encourage more women to breastfeed for longer.

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‘Not just a piece of skin in front of you’—a qualitative exploration of the experiences of adolescents with eczema and psoriasis with healthcare professionals

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041108 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. e041108

Author(s):

Isabella Joy de Vere Hunt ◽

Abigail McNiven ◽

Amanda Roberts ◽

Himesh Parmar ◽

Tess McPherson

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Skin Disease ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Emotional Impact ◽

Skin Conditions ◽

The Uk ◽

Qualitative Exploration

BackgroundThere is little qualitative research in the UK focussing on adolescents’ experience of their healthcare providers, and inflammatory skin conditions are a common heath problem in adolescence.AimTo explore the experiences of adolescents with eczema and psoriasis with healthcare professionals, and to distil the participants’ key messages for their healthcare providers.DesignThis is a secondary thematic analysis of interviews with adolescents with eczema or psoriasis.ParticipantsThere were a total of 41 text transcripts of interviews with young people with eczema or psoriasis who had given permission for secondary analysis; 23 of the participants had eczema, and 18 psoriasis. Participants were living in the UK at time of interview, and aged 15–24 years old.ResultsWe have distilled the following key messages from young people with eczema and psoriasis for healthcare providers: (1) address the emotional impact; (2) give more information, with the subtheme and (3) appreciate patient research. We identified the following eczema-specific themes: (ECZ-4) ‘It’s not taken seriously’; (ECZ-5) offer choice in treatment and (ECZ-6) lack of structure/conflicting advice. Two psoriasis-specific themes were identified: (PSO-4) feeling dehumanised/treat me as a person; and (PSO-5) think about how treatments will affect daily life.ConclusionThis qualitative data analysis highlights the need for greater recognition of the emotional impact of skin disease in adolescence, and for more comprehensive provision of information about the conditions. We call for greater sensitivity and flexibility in our approach to adolescents with skin disease, with important implications for healthcare delivery to this group.

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Mothers’ Experiences of Wellbeing and Coping While Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Qualitative Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-690060/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Chloe Parton ◽

Jane M. Ussher ◽

Janette Perz

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Social Support ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Older Children ◽

Dependent Child ◽

Women’S Experiences ◽

Women's Experiences ◽

Qualitative Thematic Analysis ◽

Letting Go ◽

And Coping

Abstract Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can result in difficulties for mothers when undertaking daily care activities and increased psychological distress. However, few studies have examined how women with RA subjectively experience coping and wellbeing as part of their motherhood. Methods Twenty mothers with a diagnosis of RA and a dependent child (18 years or younger) who were living in Australia took part in a semi-structured interview between June and November 2017. Purposive sampling was undertaken to include participants across degree of current RA severity, number and age of children, and having received a diagnosis before or after a first child to take account of variability across these experiences. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted on the interview transcripts. Results The following themes were identified: ‘Burden and complexity in the mothering role’, ‘Losing control: Women’s experiences of distress’, and ‘Adjusting and letting go: Women’s experiences of wellbeing’. Experiences of distress, including feelings of failure, were associated with accounts of a loss of control over mothering practices among women, regardless of child age. In contrast, accounts of adjusting mothering practices and relinquishing control were associated with reports of enhanced wellbeing. In addition, some mothers reported greater ease due to increased independence of older children. The absence of social support exacerbated burden and distress in the women’s accounts, while the availability of support alleviated burden and was associated with reports of wellbeing. Conclusion Health professionals and services can provide support to mothers with RA by addressing feelings of failure, acknowledging strategies of adjustment and letting go, and encouraging access to social support.

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Intimate partner violence educational programmes may improve healthcare professionals’ knowledge of and readiness to respond to women’s experiences of violence

Evidence-Based Nursing ◽

10.1136/ebnurs-2021-103457 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. ebnurs-2021-103457

Author(s):

Rebecca J. Seymour ◽

Susan M. Jack

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Women’S Experiences ◽

Women's Experiences ◽

Educational Programmes

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‘Breast is not always best’: South Asian women's experiences of infant feeding in the UK within an acculturation framework

Maternal and Child Nutrition ◽

10.1111/j.1740-8709.2010.00253.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 72-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Kubra Choudhry ◽

Louise M. Wallace

Keyword(s):

Infant Feeding ◽

South Asian ◽

Women’S Experiences ◽

Women's Experiences ◽

The Uk

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A Qualitative Exploration of Somali Refugee Women’s Experiences with Family Planning in the U.S.

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health ◽

10.1007/s10903-019-00887-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 66-73

Author(s):

Ying Zhang ◽

Erin E. McCoy ◽

Roda Scego ◽

William Phillips ◽

Emily Godfrey

Keyword(s):

Family Planning ◽

Women’S Experiences ◽

Women's Experiences ◽

Somali Refugee ◽

Qualitative Exploration ◽

The U.S

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A qualitative exploration of breastfeeding support groups in Ireland from the women's perspectives

Midwifery ◽

10.1016/j.midw.2019.08.001 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 78 ◽

pp. 71-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Elizabeth McCarthy Quinn ◽

Louise Gallagher ◽

Jan de Vries

Keyword(s):

Support Groups ◽

Breastfeeding Support ◽

Qualitative Exploration

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It Takes an E-Village: Supporting African American Mothers in Sustaining Breastfeeding Through Facebook Communities

Journal of Human Lactation ◽

10.1177/0890334419831652 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 569-582 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ayanna Robinson ◽

Marsha Davis ◽

Jori Hall ◽

Carolyn Lauckner ◽

Alex Kojo Anderson

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Support Groups ◽

Child Rearing ◽

Breastfeeding Duration ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups ◽

African American Mothers ◽

Breastfeeding Support ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

And Shifts

Background: Lack of breastfeeding support is a common barrier reported by African American mothers, whose breastfeeding rates remain significantly below the national average. Despite mothers’ reported use of social network sites to access support on topics relating to child rearing, few studies have examined their use to exchange breastfeeding support. Research aims: To describe (1) the experiences of African American mothers who participate in breastfeeding support groups on Facebook and (2) the breastfeeding beliefs, practices, and outcomes for this population of mothers. Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional qualitative study with an online focus group design. The study was guided by Black Feminist Thought and an integrated model of behavior prediction. Four online focus groups ( N = 22) were conducted using video conferencing during September 2017 with African American mothers who were participating in breastfeeding support groups on Facebook. Results: Thematic analysis was used to develop four themes and two subthemes, including creating a community for Black mothers, online interactions and levels of engagement, advantages of participating in online support groups, critiques of online support groups, empowerment of self and others, and shifts in breastfeeding perceptions and decisions. Among participants in this study, positive imagery of African American breastfeeding mothers and ongoing support from women with shared experiences improved confidence with public breastfeeding and prolonged goals for breastfeeding duration. Conclusion: Receiving peer support within Facebook communities may positively influence breastfeeding norms and confidence in breastfeeding, help mothers to overcome breastfeeding challenges, and ultimately extend intended breastfeeding duration.

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