Maternal perceptions of partner support during breastfeeding

Abstract

BackgroundMany women find breastfeeding challenging to sustain beyond the first three postpartum months. Women rely on a variety of resources to aid and encourage breastfeeding, including ‘partner support’. Women’s perception of partner support during breastfeeding may influence maternal satisfaction and confidence but it remains understudied. We asked women about their perceptions of partner support during breastfeeding and measured the effect on maternal confidence, commitment, and satisfaction with respect to breastfeeding.MethodsUsing a descriptive, cross sectional design, we recruited 76 mothers from community health clinics in Calgary, Alberta. Participants completed a questionnaire addressing perceptions of partner support, the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES) measuring maternal confidence and ability to breastfeed, and the Hill and Humenick Lactation Scale (HHLS) measuring commitment, perceived infant satiety, and breastfeeding satisfaction. Descriptive analysis was performed on socio-demographic and survey responses. Multiple regression modeling was used to examine the association between partner support and breastfeeding outcomes.ResultsWomen who reported active/positive support from their partners scored higher on the BSES (p < 0.019) than those reporting ambivalent/negative partner support when we controlled for previous breastfeeding experience and age of infant. There were no significant differences between the two groups of women on total score of HHLS or any of the subscales with respect to perceptions of partner support.ConclusionMothers feel more capable and confident about breastfeeding when they perceive their partners are supportive by way of verbal encouragement and active involvement in breastfeeding activities. Mothers with partners who seemed ambivalent, motivated only by “what’s best for baby,” or provided negative feedback about breastfeeding, felt less confident in their ability to breastfeed. It is important that health care professionals appreciate the influence that positive and active partner support has upon the development of maternal confidence in breastfeeding, a known predictor for maintaining breastfeeding. Common support strategies could be communicated to both the partner and mother in the prenatal and postpartum periods. Health professionals can provide information, invite partners to become active learners and discuss supportive partner functions. Further research should address those functions that are perceived as most supportive by mothers and that partners are willing to perform.

Fathers’ Involvement in Breast Feeding Practices and Associated Factors among Households having Children Less than Six Months in Southern Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study

“…Evidence shows fathers play a key role in child health and survival and higher levels of paternal support and encouragement are linked with greater maternal confidence to breastfeed. It was also observed that mothers who had a supportive and encouraging partner were more likely to plan to breastfeed and to breastfeed for a longer duration as well [10]. The result of our study revealed that 72.4% of fathers were involved in child a breast feeding practice which is higher as compared with a cross-sectional study conducted in Kathmandu district, Nepal, in which 58.7% of men encouraged their partners for exclusive breast feeding [11].…”

Apoios à mulher/nutriz nas peças publicitárias da Semana Mundial da Amamentação

“…In women who have had such support, breastfeeding indicators were better (17) . However, even so, the father figure was revealed in the breastfeeding campaigns once again showing the hegemonic model based on the view of maternal responsibility (13) .…”

Predictors of Breastfeeding Intention in Malaysia

“…Various studies suggest that presence of supportive spouses/partners are important in playing a critical role in the mothers decision on how to feed the infant (Nemeh Ahmad Al-Akour, Khassawneh, Khader, Ababneh, & Haddad, 2010; Kong & Lee, 2004;Scott, Binns, & Aroni, 1997) by encouraging them to breastfeed their newborn infants (Wolfberg et al, 2004). Fathers can play their roles as breastfeeding advocates which in turn will promote initiation and increase the duration of breastfeeding (Wolfberg et al, 2004) as well as boosting higher confidence in breastfeeding along the journey (Mannion, Hobbs, McDonald, & Tough, 2013).…”

“…Various studies suggest that presence of supportive spouses/partners are important in playing a critical role in the mothers decision on how to feed the infant (Nemeh Ahmad Al-Akour, Kong & Lee, 2004;Scott, Binns, & Aroni, 1997) by encouraging them to breastfeed their newborn infants (Wolfberg et al, 2004). Fathers can play their roles as breastfeeding advocates which in turn will promote initiation and increase the duration of breastfeeding (Wolfberg et al, 2004) as well as boosting higher confidence in breastfeeding along the journey (Mannion, Hobbs, McDonald, & Tough, 2013).Since breastfeeding journey will have their ups and downs experienced by of the mothers especially for the new mothers, it is also important that fathers should be exposed on how to prevent and manage the most common lactation difficulties might face by the mothers, for example, breasts engorgement and latching problems.In a controlled trial study done in Italy, 280 fathers were divided into two; there will be a training session on management of breastfeeding in the intervention group and control group where they received nothing. As a result, the intervention group had higher rates of 'full breastfeeding' at 6 months (25 %) compared to only 15 % in control group.…”