Emotional and informational social support from health visitors and breastfeeding outcomes in the UK

Chambers, Angus Ross; Emmott, Emily H; Myers, Sarah; Page, Abigail E.

doi:10.1186/s13006-023-00551-7

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 52 publications

(84 reference statements)

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“…Enabling a baby driven approach can lead to greater breastfeeding self-efficacy of mothers. Midwives enhancing mothers’ confidence in their own abilities may ultimately be more important to breastfeeding success than the clinical aspects of teaching [ 13 , 34 , 35 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Respondents frequently mentioned concerns about mothers’ anxiety, lack of confidence, hesitation to use a ‘new’ position and lack of awareness around LBBF as barriers to midwives suggesting it. New mothers tend to have heightened anxiety and lack confidence about many aspects of life with a newborn [ 35 , 38 ] and infant feeding is no exception. With greater knowledge of LBBF midwives would also gain greater confidence in educating mothers about the position and addressing their concerns.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Laid-back breastfeeding: knowledge, attitudes and practices of midwives and student midwives in Ireland

McGuigan,

Larkin

2024

Int Breastfeed J

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Background Despite concerted efforts by policy developers, health professionals and lay groups, breastfeeding rates in Ireland remain one of the lowest in world, with 63.6% of mothers initiating breastfeeding at birth, dropping to 37.6% of mothers breastfeeding exclusively on hospital discharge. Nipple trauma and difficulties with baby latching are major contributors to the introduction of formula and discontinuation of breastfeeding. Research shows laid-back breastfeeding (LBBF) significantly reduces breast problems such as sore and cracked nipples, engorgement, and mastitis as well as facilitating a better latch. Although the benefits of LBBF are well documented, this position does not seem to be routinely suggested to mothers as an option when establishing breastfeeding. This study aims to determine midwives’ and student midwives’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices of using laid-back breastfeeding in Ireland. Method A cross-sectional descriptive survey distributed to midwives and student midwives in three maternity hospitals in Ireland and two online midwifery groups based in the Republic of Ireland, during June, July, and August 2021. Results Two hundred and fifty-three valid responses were received from nine maternity units. Most participants (81.4%) were aware of laid-back breastfeeding. However, only 6.8% of respondents cited it as the position they most frequently use. Over one-third (38.34%) had never used this position with mothers. Those more likely to suggest LBBF had personal experience of it, were lactation consultants or working towards qualification, or had participated in specific education about LBBF. Barriers included lack of education, confidence, time, and experience. Further issues related to work culture, a tendency to continue using more familiar positions and concerns about mothers’ anatomy and mothers’ unfamiliarity with LBBF. Conclusion Although there was a high level of awareness of laid-back breastfeeding among midwives and student midwives, there are challenges preventing its use in practice. Education specifically related to using LBBF in practice is required to overcome the barriers identified. A greater understanding of mothers’ and babies’ intrinsic feeding capacities may give midwives more confidence to recommend this method as a first choice, potentially leading to more successful breastfeeding establishment and maintenance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laid-back breastfeeding: knowledge, attitudes and practices of midwives and student midwives in Ireland

McGuigan,

Larkin

2024

Int Breastfeed J

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“…Mothers often feel unprepared to breastfeed, but report that qualified breastfeeding counselling and emotional support from healthcare professionals at the hospital and in the first weeks at home motivate them to master challenges associated with breastfeeding [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breastfeeding mother’s experiences with breastfeeding counselling: a qualitative study

Hamnøy,

Kjelsvik,

Baerug

et al. 2024

Int Breastfeed J

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Background Mothers are recommended to breastfeed their children but can find it challenging and experience breastfeeding problems. Qualified breastfeeding counselling from healthcare professionals can help mothers master breastfeeding, but there is a need to explore mothers’ lived experiences with receiving breastfeeding counselling. We aimed to reveal breastfeeding mothers’ experiences with receiving breastfeeding counselling from midwives and public health nurses (PHNs) to provide a deeper insight into the phenomenon of breastfeeding counselling, which may improve breastfeeding counselling in practice. Methods A qualitative design with a hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used. Individual interviews of 11 breastfeeding mothers from Norway were conducted from September 2021 to 2022. Van Manen’s guided existential inquiry guided the reflective process to provide deeper insights into the phenomenon of breastfeeding counselling. Results The study captured the meaning of breastfeeding mothers’ lived experiences with breastfeeding counselling. Three themes and eight sub-themes were found. Breastfeeding was at stake for the mothers because breastfeeding could be reduced or stopped, and qualified breastfeeding counselling from midwives and PHNs was essential for them to establish and continue breastfeeding. They needed to be perceived as both breastfeeding mothers and as women with their own needs to master everyday life during the breastfeeding period. Conclusions This study offers insights to midwives, PHNs and others offering breastfeeding counselling by facilitating an understanding of being a breastfeeding mother receiving breastfeeding counselling. Qualified breastfeeding counselling and a trusting relationship with midwives and PHNs are essential for mothers to establish and continue breastfeeding, while deficient counselling may cause breastfeeding difficulties. Mothers need to be treated as whole and competent persons to avoid objectification and fathers/partners need to be included in breastfeeding counselling. The ‘Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative’ should be continued, and guidelines should align with the mothers’ need to incorporate breastfeeding into their daily lives during the breastfeeding period.

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“…4 Findings point to the importance of health visitors providing emotional support to bolster the continuation of breastfeeding and encourage a positive subjective experience of infant feeding. 6 The emphasis of emotional support encourages increased allocation of resources and training opportunities to ensure health visitors are able to provide enhanced emotional support. 6 Women's experiences reveal a daily life with difficulties in reconciling the desire to breastfeed and the work scenario.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6 The emphasis of emotional support encourages increased allocation of resources and training opportunities to ensure health visitors are able to provide enhanced emotional support. 6 Women's experiences reveal a daily life with difficulties in reconciling the desire to breastfeed and the work scenario. 7 Support network and adaptation to children's food routine are strategies adopted to minimize risks of weaning.…”

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confidence: 99%

Breastfeeding by Working Mothers: Global Challenges

Vandenplas¹,

Basrowi²

2023

IJCOM

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A mother’s full-time employment is a determinant factor in abandoning exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months. White-collar workers have a better knowledge, attitude, and practice toward breastfeeding than blue-collar workers. The discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding is associated with delayed skin-to-skin contact, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admission, pacifier and artificial teats use, mother’s return to work earlier and lower education levels. Racial and ethnic disparities in paid and unpaid workloads of mothers, and the relationship between components of job quality and duration of mother’s own milk provision. However, returning to work, insufficient breast milk, misconceptions about breastfeeding, and interference with social life were the barriers for mothers to breastfeed continuously. Several aspects must be considered to increase the chances of a beneficial effect of interventions: type of intervention, target audience, timing of intervention, actors that can implement it, strategies and methods of intervention, and intensity of intervention. Intervention efforts should focus on behavior change to educate and equip mothers to overcome the barriers that are within their control. Such interventions should further focus on family-centered education and strengthening the proficiency of healthcare workers on advising breastfeeding mothers. Findings point to the importance of health visitors providing emotional support to bolster the continuation of breastfeeding and encourage a positive subjective experience of infant feeding. The emphasis of emotional support encourages increased allocation of resources and training opportunities to ensure health visitors are able to provide enhanced emotional support. Women’s experiences reveal a daily life with difficulties in reconciling the desire to breastfeed and the work scenario. Support network and adaptation to children’s food routine are strategies adopted to minimize risks of weaning. The results show the need to consolidate policies to encourage continued breastfeeding in the labor market. Effort is needed to sustain breastfeeding after maternal return to work. A breastfeeding-friendly policy with clear operating guidelines in the workplace is critical to sustaining breastfeeding. Learning from others who have had a positive experience will ensure that all breastfeeding women are better supported in the workplace in future. When ‘breastfeeding only’ support is offered to women, the duration and in particular, the exclusivity of breastfeeding is likely to be increased. Support may also be more effective in reducing the number of women stopping breastfeeding at three to four months compared to later time points. For ‘breastfeeding plus’ interventions the evidence is less certain. Support may be offered either by professional or lay/peer supporters, or a combination of both. Support can also be offered face-to-face, via telephone or digital technologies, or a combination and may be more effective when delivered on a schedule of four to eight visits. Further work is needed to identify components of the effective interventions and to deliver interventions on a larger scale. Governments should make it obligatory for employers to offer a breastfeeding support program and a dedicated breastfeeding facility at the workplace as these simple measures significantly increase exclusive breastfeeding. Knowledge improvement related to breastfeeding benefits and supports to working mothers are a key priority, however advocacy to employers, managers, and supervisors in providing breastfeeding facilitation and program support are also critical to successful breastfeeding practice among workers. Policies, regulations, and laws supporting the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding practices until 6 months in mothers as recommended by the WHO should be reinforced.

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Emotional and informational social support from health visitors and breastfeeding outcomes in the UK

Cited by 10 publications

References 52 publications

Laid-back breastfeeding: knowledge, attitudes and practices of midwives and student midwives in Ireland

Laid-back breastfeeding: knowledge, attitudes and practices of midwives and student midwives in Ireland

Breastfeeding mother’s experiences with breastfeeding counselling: a qualitative study

Breastfeeding by Working Mothers: Global Challenges

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