BACKGROUND: Mothers of very preterm infants continue to face challenges related to providing their expressed breast milk in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study sought to understand the experience of mothers of hospitalized very preterm infants related to their daily pumping routine during the NICU stay. METHODS: Fourteen women who were pumping breast milk for their hospitalized infants were interviewed. Sequential, semistructured, audiotaped individual interviews were conducted at 2 different time points: within 2 weeks following delivery when the mothers were pumping only, and 4 to 6 weeks once breastfeeding had been initiated. RESULTS: The central themes found were: becoming a "mother-interrupted" and negotiating a paradoxical experience of separation and connection. Unique to these findings were the paradoxical view of the pump as both a wedge and a link to their infants, the intense dislike the mothers had for the tasks required to provide their expressed breast milk, and diversionary tactics used during pumping sessions. CONCLUSION: The complexity of thoughts, actions, and behaviors revealed in the mothers' narrative accounts provides a guide to direct future breastfeeding interventions and management.
BACKGROUND: Mothers of very preterm infants continue to face challenges related to providing their expressed breast milk in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study sought to understand the experience of mothers of hospitalized very preterm infants related to their daily pumping routine during the NICU stay. METHODS: Fourteen women who were pumping breast milk for their hospitalized infants were interviewed. Sequential, semistructured, audiotaped individual interviews were conducted at 2 different time points: within 2 weeks following delivery when the mothers were pumping only, and 4 to 6 weeks once breastfeeding had been initiated. RESULTS: The central themes found were: becoming a "mother-interrupted" and negotiating a paradoxical experience of separation and connection. Unique to these findings were the paradoxical view of the pump as both a wedge and a link to their infants, the intense dislike the mothers had for the tasks required to provide their expressed breast milk, and diversionary tactics used during pumping sessions. CONCLUSION: The complexity of thoughts, actions, and behaviors revealed in the mothers' narrative accounts provides a guide to direct future breastfeeding interventions and management.
Authors: Valerie J Flaherman; Katherine G Hicks; Justine Huynh; Michael D Cabana; Kathryn A Lee Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2014-08-19 Impact factor: 3.092
Authors: Rebecca Hoban; Harold Bigger; Aloka L Patel; Beverly Rossman; Louis F Fogg; Paula Meier Journal: Breastfeed Med Date: 2015-06-25 Impact factor: 1.817
Authors: Margaret G Parker; Sunah S Hwang; Emma S Forbes; Bryanne N Colvin; Kyria R Brown; Eve R Colson Journal: Breastfeed Med Date: 2020-07-16 Impact factor: 1.817