Nain, Mam and Me: Historical artefacts as prompts for reminiscence, reflection and conversation about feeding babies. A qualitative development study

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

Shenker

2022

Background Access to donor human milk (DHM) has primarily been based on the health and development outcomes of premature infants but there has been little examination of the broader impact of an infant receiving it upon parental mental health. Breastfeeding and mental health are closely tied with women who experience breastfeeding difficulties or are unable to meet their own breastfeeding goals often experiencing feelings of guilt, sadness and anger, alongside an increased risk of postnatal depression. The aim of the current study was to explore how experience of receiving DHM for their baby affected the wellbeing of parents. Methods UK parents of infants aged 0 – 12 months who had received screened DHM from a milk bank (typically on the neonatal unit or in some cases in the community) completed an online questionnaire exploring their experiences. The questionnaire included Likert scale items examining perceived impact upon infant health, own wellbeing and family functioning alongside open-ended questions exploring perceptions of how receiving DHM affected wellbeing. Results Almost all of the 107 participants (women = 102) agreed that receiving DHM had a positive impact upon infant health and development, their own mental and physical health, and their family’s wellbeing. Parents felt relieved that their infant was receiving DHM for health reasons but also due to the experience of being listened to, supported and having their infant feeding decisions facilitated. Receiving DHM helped mothers to process some of their emotions at not being able to breastfeed, in part because knowing their baby was being fed gave them the space to focus on recovery and bonding with their baby. Some parents did experience challenges, feeling guilty at receiving DHM, insecure that another woman was able to feed their baby when they could not, or negative reactions from family. Although the impact of receiving DHM upon breastfeeding was not measured, some women who were working to build their own milk supply noted that it helped motivate them to continue. Conclusions DHM may play an important role not only in protecting infant health and development but in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of mothers for whom their infant receiving human milk is important.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Receiving screened donor human milk for their infant supports parental wellbeing: a mixed-methods study

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

Shenker

2022

“…Implementing policy and change in a region such as Wales can be a challenge. Breastfeeding support is easier to implement and is more effective in communities where breastfeeding rates are already high (McFadden et al, 2017 ), yet despite the supportive policy, breastfeeding rates have been low for several generations, creating a bottle‐feeding culture where family and community knowledge of formula feeding is amplified (Brown et al, 2011 ; Trickey et al, 2017 ). Health professionals can worry about pressurising mothers (Yang et al, 2018 ) and a lack of training among some medical professionals can lead to inaccurate advice (Brown et al, 2019 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Becoming breastfeeding friendly in Wales: Recommendations for scaling up breastfeeding support

Maternal & Child Nutrition

Chucha

Trickey

2022

Self Cite

Breastfeeding and the provision of human milk is established as protecting infant and maternal health. However, breastfeeding rates in many countries, including Wales, are low. Given the significant health, economic and environmental impacts of this, the need to strengthen breastfeeding promotion, protection and support is paramount. As part of this, the becoming breastfeeding friendly: a guide to global scale-up (BBF) initiative sets out a methodology to enable countries to assess their readiness to scale up breastfeeding protection, promotion and support by gathering data and scoring progress under eight areas, termed 'gears', shown to be essential for large-scale change. Recently, Wales took part in the BBF initiative. A cross-sector committee, including stakeholders from Universities, Welsh Government, Public Health Wales and Health Boards alongside critical friends scored Wales' support for breastfeeding across the eight gears. The overall score for Wales was 1.1 out of a possible 0-3, representing a moderate scaling up the environment for breastfeeding. Six gears were rated in the moderate gear strength category and two ('Promotion' and 'Advocacy') in the weak gear strength category. Gaps in breastfeeding support were identified and 31 recommendations covering six themes for change were put forward. These included a strategic action plan, consistent and long-term funding, a nuanced, cocreated engagement and promotion framework, strengthened education and training, robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and ensuring maternity rights and the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitute are upheld. Taken together, the analysis and recommendations present a clear vision for protecting and not merely promoting breastfeeding in Wales.

“…Family attitudes to breastfeeding can be complex, with critical or inaccurate views affecting the support new mothers receive. These are often bound up in personal di cult experiences of feeding babies, with some feeling criticised when their own daughter chooses to feed in a different way 50,51 . Although research in this area has typically focused on breastfeeding, it is likely that similar concepts apply, alongside views around human milk as a potentially contaminated or sexual uid 52 in contrast to carefully designed 'scienti c' and 'sanitised' adverts of infant formula milk 53 may in uence how some people react towards the concept of DHM.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Receiving Screened Donor Human Milk for Their Infant Supports Parental Wellbeing: a Mixed-methods Study

Shenker

2021

Preprint

Background: Donor human milk (DHM) protects the health and development of premature infants but there has been little examination of the broader impact of an infant receiving it upon parental mental health. Breastfeeding and mental health are closely tied with women who experience breastfeeding difficulties or are unable to meet their own breastfeeding goals often experiencing feelings of guilt, sadness and anger, alongside an increased risk of postnatal depression. The aim of the current study was to explore how experience of receiving DHM for their baby affected the wellbeing of parents.Methods: UK parents of infants aged 0 – 12 months who had received screened DHM from a milk bank (typically on the neonatal unit or in some cases in the community) completed an online questionnaire exploring their experiences. The questionnaire included Likert scale items examining perceived impact upon infant health, own wellbeing and family functioning alongside open-ended questions exploring perceptions of how receiving DHM affected wellbeing.Results: Almost all of the 107 participants (women=102) agreed that receiving DHM had a positive impact upon infant health and development, their own mental and physical health, and their family’s wellbeing. Parents felt relieved that their infant was receiving DHM for health reasons but also due to the experience of being listened to, supported and having their infant feeding decisions facilitated. Receiving DHM helped mothers to process some of their emotions at not being able to breastfeed, in part because knowing their baby was being fed gave them the space to focus on recovery and bonding with their baby. Some parents did experience challenges, feeling guilty at receiving DHM, insecure that another woman was able to feed their baby when they could not, with some negative reactions from family. Although the impact of receiving DHM upon breastfeeding was not measured, some women who were working to build their own milk supply noted that it helped motivate them to continue.Conclusions: DHM may play an important role not only in protecting infant health and development but in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of mothers for whom their infant receiving human milk is important.