To Explore the Experiences of Women on Reasons in Initiating and Maintaining Breastfeeding in Urban Area of Karachi, Pakistan: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

This is an exploratory study that explores the experiences of lactating women in initiating, continuing, or discontinuing breastfeeding in an urban area of Karachi, Pakistan. Objectives. To explore the experiences of lactating women and to understand their support and hindering mechanisms in initiating and maintaining breastfeeding. Methods. This is an exploratory design assisting in exploring the participant's experiences of initiating and maintaining breastfeeding to better understand their world. Purposive sampling was used, and data was analyzed through manual thematic analysis. Results. The data revealed that mother's knowledge, sociocultural environment, breastfeeding decision, and self- and professional support acted as driving forces for the participants. However, sociocultural environment, physiological changes, time management, and being a housewife to breastfeed their children were all challenges and barriers that the participants thought hindered their breastfeeding initiation and maintenance. Conclusion. Breastfeeding is a natural but taxing phenomenon, and breastfeeding mothers experience supporting and hindering factors in initiating and maintaining breastfeeding.

A cross-sectional study of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward breastfeeding among postnatal mothers delivering at a tertiary care center in Garhwal, India

“…Mother's health-related factors such as being unconscious after delivery[ 21 22 ] and fatigue[ 23 ] have been cited as potential factors in delaying breastfeeding. In our study, the reasons for delay in initiation of breastfeeding were mainly no milk (6.92%), mother having pain (6.37%), baby slept (1.93%), mother was in labor room (14.13%), baby did not accept (3%), and mother tired and slept (2.77%).…”

Improving support for breastfeeding mothers: a qualitative study on the experiences of breastfeeding among mothers who reside in a deprived and culturally diverse community

“…We were worried because she was small when she was born. She would cry every thirty minutes for me but then didn't like me going near her, she just got frustrated (Bangladeshi mother, aged [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45].…”

Barriers to Breastfeeding in South-Asia: A Systematic Literature Review

“…It is the perfect food that contains all the well-adjusted nutritious elements, for the new born. It is a type of nutrition that gives the same food to all the babies across the globe irrespective of socio-economic boundaries [1]. Research has revealed the important developmental, psychological, environmental, social, nutritional, immunological, and economical benefits of breastfeeding.…”

“…Research has revealed the important developmental, psychological, environmental, social, nutritional, immunological, and economical benefits of breastfeeding. It guards babies from acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea, reduces neonatal mortality, enhances response to vaccinations, and boosts their immune systems [1]. Likewise, many researches have mentioned the motherly health advantages of breastfeeding, such as more rapid uterine involution, decreased postnatal bleeding, reduce weight quickly, and less chances of breast and ovarian cancer [2].…”

“…Also, mother with higher academic educational level was associated with increased risk for bottle-feeding because they believed there are more nutritional elements present in formula milk in the studies published in Bangladesh and India. practice of breastfeeding is declining [1]. Practices of infant feeding vary due to changes in tradition, use of healthcare services, knowledge, and financial factors.…”