Modern parents' perspectives on breastfeeding: a small study

Abstract

The aims of this study were to explore the meanings attributed to decisions and experiences surrounding breastfeeding and weaning by both parents. The study used semi-structured interviews to elicit the participants' stories. Six women and five men were interviewed in 2004. Transcripts were made of the recorded interviews and these were analysed using the techniques of IPA. Master themes and sub-themes were extracted and it was discovered that the parents were in agreement on many issues. Male and female parents today often work together as a team, but there is a sense among both that the woman should be discreet when breastfeeding. Women therefore need support to be able to feed their infants however, whenever and wherever they wish.

Not-patient and not-visitor: A metasynthesis fathers’ encounters with pregnancy, birth and maternity care

“…Positive and authentic engagement, that sees fathers as active agents in the journey to parenthood, has the potential to increase trust, decrease fear, to increase resilience in the face of uncertainty and adversity, and to increase the chance of men seeing themselves as valued co-parents, rather than as spectators and bystanders. In turn, this approach can maximise the benefits that accrue to mother, baby, father, and the wider family when fathers are confident and well informed (Bailey, 2007;Yokote, 2007).…”

Experiences of the first year as father

“…Even if breast feeding, which is a part of the symbiosis was experienced as an impediment in the relationship between father and child, the man still saw it as his task to support the woman in breast feeding. The father’s support to the breast feeding mother has a positive effect on the actual breast feeding, the attachment between mother and child and the family dynamic (41–43).…”

Relatively speaking? Partners' and family members’ views and experiences of supporting breastfeeding: a systematic review of qualitative evidence

“…Gender roles largely factored into infant feeding decision making with many partners believing this was not their role and was predominantly the woman's, as it was her body [18,19,22,24,[26][27][28]38,43,59,63,64,68,71,81]. Many partners presumed their child would be breastfed [18,27,43,61,63,71,80,81] and some partners had not discussed this with the woman [24,27,43,61]. Some grandmothers considered a woman's partner should have no say in infant feeding decision as it was a woman's choice to breastfeed or not [42].…”

“…Partners identified the stigmatization associated with breastfeeding in public, and thought it should be avoided owing to the woman being uncomfortable with others potentially able to see her breasts [16,24,40,49,59,63,81]. Partners had concerns about the sexualisation of breasts, suggesting breastfeeding was a private action [16,40,60,63,74].…”

“…Partners had concerns about the sexualisation of breasts, suggesting breastfeeding was a private action [16,40,60,63,74]. Some referred to a protective instinct for their partners and were only accepting of breastfeeding in public if women could do this discreetly [16,24,40,49,63,70,81]. Some grandmothers and partners felt breastfeeding was inappropriate in front of other children [40,63].…”