"It's so much more than feeding": A qualitative study of postpartum women's experiences of breastfeeding — ASN Events
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  3. "It's so much more than feeding": A qualitative study of postpartum women's experiences of breastfeeding

"It's so much more than feeding": A qualitative study of postpartum women's experiences of breastfeeding (#65)

Emma Shipton 1 2 , Nigel Lee 1 , Susan de Jersey 1 2 , Katie Foxcroft 1 , Leonie Callaway 1 2
  1. University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  2. RBWH, HERSTON (QLD 4029), QLD, Australia

Background: Breastfeeding is widely regarded as the optimal method of infant feeding due to the positive health benefits to both mother and baby (1). Although the majority of women commence breastfeeding, rates of breastfeeding continuation and exclusivity decrease as the postpartum period continues (2). Breastfeeding education and support that commences in the antenatal period and continues postpartum is an important component of breastfeeding success (3). Midwifery continuity of care (where the woman receives care from a primary, known midwife) may support breastfeeding, as receiving care from a known caregiver facilitates a therapeutic relationship that assists in individualised breastfeeding support (4).

Aim: To investigate the breastfeeding experiences of postpartum women and how they received midwifery support and education.  

Methods: In this qualitative study, 14 women were interviewed at 6-8 weeks postpartum. These women were cared for during pregnancy and postpartum through midwife-led care, in both continuity and non-continuity models of care. 

Findings: Women's experiences of postpartum professional support were similar, regardless of whether they were cared for under continuity or non-continuity models. Women overall felt postpartum midwifery support was simplistic and were provided with superficial advice. Breastfeeding experiences often did not align with women's antenatal expectations, and women were surprised to learn that breastfeeding offers more than nutritional or health benefits.

Conclusion: This study provides insight into women's experiences from their understanding of antenatal breastfeeding education to the realities of postpartum breastfeeding. Maternity clinicians can better support this transition through providing individualised and realistic education and support, that focuses on breastfeeding beyond just documented health benefits. 

  1. Victora CGP, Bahl RMD, Barros AJDP, et al. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet 2016; 387(10017): 475-90.
  2. Vaz JS, Maia MFS, Neves PA, Santos TM, Vidaletti LP, Victora C. Monitoring breastfeeding indicators in high‐income countries: Levels, trends and challenges. Maternal & Child Nutrition 2021; 17(3): e13137.
  3. Rollins NC, Bhandari N, Hajeebhoy N, et al. Why invest, and what it will take to improve breastfeeding practices? Lancet 2016; 387(10017): 491-504.
  4. Chesnel MJ, Healy M, McNeill J. Experiences that influence how trained providers support women with breastfeeding: A systematic review of qualitative evidence. Plos one 2022; 17(10): e0275608.
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