Fathers' perspectives on breastfeeding: ideas for intervention

Sherriff, Nigel; Hall, Valerie; Pickin, Martina

doi:10.12968/bjom.2009.17.4.41670

Cited by 60 publications

(103 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Without fathers' support, mothers are more likely to breastfeed for a shorter duration [17,18]. When fathers are not supportive, breastfeeding rates are lower [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Without fathers' support, mothers are more likely to breastfeed for a shorter duration [17,18]. When fathers are not supportive, breastfeeding rates are lower [19].Some authors have suggested that the baby's father is one of the most influential persons to the mother decisions and actions, and that he can act as either key supporter or deterrent to the breast-feeding process [20]. However, many fathers lack the awareness of their relevance to breastfeeding success.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Fathers’ To Be’ Knowledge about Breastfeeding

Cardoso¹,

Silva²,

Marin³

2017

IPCB

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Aim: To assess Portuguese fathers' knowledge on breastfeeding at 28-32 gestational weeks and to examine fathers' knowledge in relation to socio-demographics and paternal characteristics. Design:A cross-sectional design was used. The face-to-face interviewing was used to collected data using a dichotomy clinical instrument composed by 18 knowledge breastfeeding descriptors that emerged from literature review and validated by a panel of experts. The reliability was established using Kuder-Richardson Coefficient and it was 0.84.Setting: Health Centers in a region of North of Portugal. Participants: Participated in the study a convenience sample of 143 fathers. Key findings:More than 90% of fathers revealed lack of knowledge in 14 out of 18 subjects assessed. Age, education, parity, planned pregnancy showed no difference. The difference was observed in relation to prenatal decision to breastfeeding and in willingness to support breastfeeding mother. Conclusion:Fathers' knowledge on breastfeeding is very poor and the prenatal involvement is relevant to pro-mote father knowledge to support breastfeeding mother. Future implications: There is a need to develop fathers' knowledge to support mothers' decisions and actions concerning to the breastfeeding. Thus, to contribute for breastfeeding success, the father must be considered as a client of care. Keywords: Breastfeeding; Paternal knowledge; Assessment IntroductionThe decision to breastfeed is important both for the child and the mother. Therefore, mother and father should be engaged in the decisions related to their child, namely the decision to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is a process that needs to be learned by mothers and fathers. Although fathers do not breastfeed, their emotional, practical and physical support is critical factors to promoting successful breastfeeding [1][2][3][4]. Based in a literature review [5], identify that fathers influence the breast-feeding decision, assistance at first feeding, and duration of breastfeeding.There is strong evidence that fathers can influence the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] contributes to maternal breastfeeding confidence [13][14][15][16] and influence decisions regarding duration and weaning [8]. Without fathers' support, mothers are more likely to breastfeed for a shorter duration [17,18]. When fathers are not supportive, breastfeeding rates are lower [19].Some authors have suggested that the baby's father is one of the most influential persons to the mother decisions and actions, and that he can act as either key supporter or deterrent to the breast-feeding process [20]. However, many fathers lack the awareness of their relevance to breastfeeding success. This notion was confirmed by a study that involved mothers and fathers who attended antenatal interventions. The authors found that the maternal and paternal learning interests during pregnancy were super imposable, except for learning needs associated with breastfeeding. In fact, mothers ranked breastfeeding learning ...

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“…Without fathers' support, mothers are more likely to breastfeed for a shorter duration [17,18]. When fathers are not supportive, breastfeeding rates are lower [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fathers’ To Be’ Knowledge about Breastfeeding

Cardoso¹,

Silva²,

Marin³

2017

IPCB

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“…In a Finnish study of first-time mothers, mothers cited fathers as the most important member of her breast-feeding support team (16) . Despite the recognized role of fathers in breast-feeding, little is known about the specific support needed and desired by breast-feeding mothers from fathers (17,18) . The aim of the present study was to examine mothers' experience of support received from fathers for breast-feeding.…”

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confidence: 99%

Mothers’ experience of fathers’ support for breast-feeding

Nickerson¹,

Sykes

Fung

2012

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective: To examine mothers' experience of support received from fathers for breast-feeding. Design: We conducted in-depth in-person interviews with women with recent breast-feeding experience. Interview transcripts were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Interviews were designed to explore the mothers' perception of role of fathers in breast-feeding, education on breast-feeding that fathers received and their perception of the fathers' view on breast-feeding. Setting: Urban and suburban community. Subjects: Nineteen women from a metropolitan area in the north-eastern USA. Results: Ten themes emerged, these involved practical and emotional support provided by fathers, especially during times of unexpected breast-feeding challenges.In addition, mothers perceived fathers may benefit from more peer and professional support, lactation consultant service and breast-feeding education.Conclusions: Mothers appreciated the support from fathers for breast-feeding continuation, including encouragement and understanding. These results may be useful for health-care practitioners to promote breast-feeding continuation by supporting fathers in their role in the breast-feeding process.Keywords Breast-feeding Lactation Fathers Support Mothers' experience Breast-feeding has many known health benefits for both mother and child, and therefore the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6 months of life and continuation of some breast milk consumption up to 1 year old (1) . These recommendations are consistent with the WHO, which recommends exclusive breast-feeding for 6 months and continuation of breast-feeding supplemented with appropriate food for up to 2 years or beyond if desired by mother and child (2) . For infants born in the USA between 2003 and 2006, breastfeeding was initiated for 73?4 %, continued until 6 months for 41?7 % of infants, and until 12 months for 21?0 % (3) . These figures remain below the target levels for the Healthy People 2020 goals of 50 % rate at 6 months (4,5) . In contrast, 79 % of 12-month-old infants around the world are breast-fed (6) . Although the USA is approaching the 2020 goals, these goals are significantly lower than global rates and the ideal of nearly 100 % breast-feeding for almost all infants (4,5,7) . In the greater Boston area (state of Massachusetts) where the present study was conducted, 77 % infants ever received at least some breast-feeding, with 46 % continuing to be breast-fed at 6 months and 20 % at 12 months (8) . The initiation rate was higher among non-US born mothers in this region (92?5 % v. 77?1 % in US-born mothers), and those with some college education exceeded 80 % breast-feeding initiation rate while among those without the rate was only 71 % (9)

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“…There is strong empirical evidence that the support of a woman's partner is crucial to her breastfeeding success (Scott, Binns, Oddy, & Graham, ). While fathers are typically encouraging of breastfeeding, they often do not know the kinds of emotional and practical support they can provide their partner and feel powerless to help (Sherriff, Hall, & Pickin, ). Fathers are encouraged to attend antenatal classes; however, the level and quality of breastfeeding information provided is often variable and the role of the father either not discussed or glossed over.…”

Section: Supporting the Supporter: Milk Man A Breastfeeding Smartphomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fathers are encouraged to attend antenatal classes; however, the level and quality of breastfeeding information provided is often variable and the role of the father either not discussed or glossed over. Furthermore, access to antenatal classes may be restricted to fathers due to the times that they are conducted (Sherriff et al, ).…”

Section: Supporting the Supporter: Milk Man A Breastfeeding Smartphomentioning

confidence: 99%