Typologies of postnatal support and breastfeeding at two months in the UK

Emmott, Emily H; Page, Abigail E.; Myers, Sarah

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.112791

Cited by 46 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Studies relating to social support and mother-child health outcomes typically focus on support from the partner or maternal grandmothers. Yet, previous analysis [6] of data from the same survey revealed that support was received from a wider range of 'informal' supporters. Thus here, we explore support received from a wider range of individuals than is typically considered in the public health literature to test the following predictions relating to the duration of both exclusive and any breastfeeding and the subjective experience of infant feeding: P1: The receipt of practical support that substitutes a mother's role in infant feeding will negatively predict breastfeeding duration, while practical support that increases a mother's time or energy in other ways will positively predict breastfeeding duration.…”

Section: Hypotheses and Predictionsmentioning

confidence: 95%

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The differential role of practical and emotional support in infant feeding experience in the UK

Myers

Page

Emmott

2021

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Social support is a known determinant of breastfeeding behaviour and is generally considered beneficial. However, social support encompasses a myriad of different supportive acts, providing scope for diverse infant feeding outcomes. Given the vulnerability of postpartum mental health, this paper aims to explore both how support prolongs breastfeeding and which forms of support promote the positive experience of all infant feeding. Using survey data collected online from 515 UK mothers with infants aged 0–108 weeks, Cox regression models assessed the relationship between receiving different types of support, support need and breastfeeding duration. Quasi-binomial logistic regression models assessed the relationship between receiving support, infant feeding mode and maternal experience of infant feeding. Rates of negative infant feeding experience indicate the widespread need for support: e.g. 38% of currently, 47% of no longer and 31% of never breastfeeding women found infant feeding stressful. Overall, practical support via infant feeding broadly predicted shorter breastfeeding durations and poorer feeding experience; results in relation to other forms of support were more complex. Our findings indicate different forms of support have different associations with infant feeding experience. They also highlight the wide range of individuals beyond the nuclear family on which postpartum mothers in the UK rely. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Multidisciplinary perspectives on social support and maternal–child health’.

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Section: Hypotheses and Predictionsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…For example, we have previously shown that that both emotional and practical support predicted increased likelihood of breastfeeding at two months in the UK, except when practical support involved allofeeding (i.e. individuals other than the mother feeding the infant), which correlated with reduced likelihood of breastfeeding [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The differential role of practical and emotional support in infant feeding experience in the UK

Myers

Page

Emmott

2021

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…Emmott, Page and Myers [ 45 ] detail the three fundamental types of support, from a social epidemiological perspective: 1) emotional , 2) informational , and 3) practical . Emotional support takes many forms, but typically represents an empathetic connection between the supporter and the mother.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, practical support involves direct actions or interventions. For example, practical support includes friends or family providing childcare, helping with household chores, or any other activity that allows mothers to focus additional time and effort on breastfeeding [ 45 ]. A fourth type includes affirmational or conformational support [ 47 ], where peers provide assurances that breastfeeding efforts are going well.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The complex geographies of telelactation and access to community breastfeeding support in the state of Ohio

Grubesic

Durbin

2020

PLoS ONE

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The availability of breastfeeding support resources, including those provided by Baby-Friendly Hospitals, International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, breastfeeding counselors and educators, and volunteer-based mother-to-mother support organizations, such as La Leche League, are critically important for influencing breastfeeding initiation and continuation for the mother-child dyad. In addition, the emergence of community support options via information and communication technologies such as Skype and Facetime, social media (e.g., Facebook), and telelactation providers are providing mothers with a new range of support options that can help bridge geographic barriers to traditional community support. However, telelactation services that use information and communication technologies to connect breastfeeding mothers to remotely located breastfeeding experts require reliable, affordable, high-quality broadband connections to facilitate interaction between mothers and their support resources. The purpose of this paper is to explore the complex spatial landscape of virtual and face-to-face breastfeeding support options for mothers in the state of Ohio (U.S.), identifying barriers to support. Using a range of spatial and network analytics, the results suggest that a divide is emerging. While urban areas in Ohio benefit from both a density of face-to-face breastfeeding support resources and robust broadband options for engaging in telelactation, many rural areas of the state are lacking access to both. Policy implications and several potential strategies for mitigating these inequities are discussed.

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“…A London-based research team recently analysed online survey data to identify three 'clusters' of postnatal support. 3 'Extensive support' mothers were supported by family, friends, and professionals. 'Family support' mothers were mainly supported by family; less so by professionals.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Yonder: Exercise procrastination, Tourette syndrome, breastfeeding, television deaths, and podcast of the month

Rashid¹

2020

Br J Gen Pract

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Typologies of postnatal support and breastfeeding at two months in the UK

Cited by 46 publications

References 48 publications

The differential role of practical and emotional support in infant feeding experience in the UK

The differential role of practical and emotional support in infant feeding experience in the UK

The complex geographies of telelactation and access to community breastfeeding support in the state of Ohio

Yonder: Exercise procrastination, Tourette syndrome, breastfeeding, television deaths, and podcast of the month

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