Philippa Davie1, Joseph Chilcot2, Louise Jones3, Debra Bick4, Sergio A Silverio5. 1. Health Psychology Section, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Philippa.davie@kcl.ac.uk. 2. Health Psychology Section, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom. Electronic address: https://www.twitter.com/joe_chilcot. 3. Health Psychology Section, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom. 4. Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, United Kingdom. Electronic address: https://www.twitter.com/DebraBick. 5. Department of Women and Children's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, United Kingdom; Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychological Sciences, Institute of Life and Human Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. Electronic address: https://www.twitter.com/Silverio_SA_.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding behaviour remains a public health priority worldwide. Despite evidence-based guidelines, healthy women who give birth to healthy, term infants continue to face barriers to breastfeeding. Understanding women's experiences of feeding in the early postnatal period is crucial to identify how support may be better tailored to improve breastfeeding outcomes, including women's experiences. QUESTION: To understand women's experiences of infant feeding amongst healthy women who give birth to healthy, average-weight, term infants. METHODS: Grounded Theory methodology was used to analyse data from a nested qualitative interview study. Twelve women between four and twelve months postpartum were recruited from a longitudinal cohort study and public advertisements. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis. FINDINGS: Three distinct themes were found, subsuming identified super-categories: Perceived indicators of 'good' feeding (infant 'output'; infant crying; weight gain; feeding frequency and duration); Women's experiences of breastfeeding latch ('good' latch; 'bad' latch with pain and discomfort); and Overall breastfeeding experience (positive; negative; and uncertain). Data suggest women give precedence to their latch experiences over indicators of 'good' feeding, highlighting breastfeeding latch as a possible mediating factor to the overall breastfeeding experience. Feeding experience can be achieved through four distinct pathways. DISCUSSION: The physical and psychological impacts of latch pain were pronounced. Even amongst healthy women with healthy infants, a positive breastfeeding experience overall was uncommon, highlighting the difficulties women continue to encounter. Understanding women's perceptions of 'good' feeding, and ensuring a pain-free latch, may better support women to have a positive breastfeeding experience.
BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding behaviour remains a public health priority worldwide. Despite evidence-based guidelines, healthy women who give birth to healthy, term infants continue to face barriers to breastfeeding. Understanding women's experiences of feeding in the early postnatal period is crucial to identify how support may be better tailored to improve breastfeeding outcomes, including women's experiences. QUESTION: To understand women's experiences of infant feeding amongst healthy women who give birth to healthy, average-weight, term infants. METHODS: Grounded Theory methodology was used to analyse data from a nested qualitative interview study. Twelve women between four and twelve months postpartum were recruited from a longitudinal cohort study and public advertisements. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis. FINDINGS: Three distinct themes were found, subsuming identified super-categories: Perceived indicators of 'good' feeding (infant 'output'; infant crying; weight gain; feeding frequency and duration); Women's experiences of breastfeeding latch ('good' latch; 'bad' latch with pain and discomfort); and Overall breastfeeding experience (positive; negative; and uncertain). Data suggest women give precedence to their latch experiences over indicators of 'good' feeding, highlighting breastfeeding latch as a possible mediating factor to the overall breastfeeding experience. Feeding experience can be achieved through four distinct pathways. DISCUSSION: The physical and psychological impacts of latch pain were pronounced. Even amongst healthy women with healthy infants, a positive breastfeeding experience overall was uncommon, highlighting the difficulties women continue to encounter. Understanding women's perceptions of 'good' feeding, and ensuring a pain-free latch, may better support women to have a positive breastfeeding experience.
Authors: Heba H Hijazi; Mohammad S Alyahya; Rabah M Al Abdi; Main N Alolayyan; Amer M Sindiani; Liqaa A Raffee; Wegdan A Baniissa; Amina M Al Marzouqi Journal: Int J Womens Health Date: 2021-10-21