Mothers' experiences and perceptions of breastfeeding and community nurse support
A qualitative study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2023.57.4.3224Keywords:
expectations, stress, empowerment, psychological supportAbstract
Introduction: The first experience with breastfeeding is for a mother to get in touch with her body and feelings and to learn from her own experience. During this process a mother needs to receive the support and advice related to health education from health professionals. The purpose of the study was to investigate mothers' perception and experience as they establish and maintain breastfeeding and at the same time to find out how mothers experience support from nurses delivering community health care.
Methods: A descriptive method with a qualitative research approach was used. A dedicated sample of 8 mothers who were breastfeeding and whose children were at least 4 months but no more than 2 years old, with various breastfeeding courses, were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire. The interviewees were 30 years old on average. Content analysis was conducted for the purposes of data analysis.
Results: Three categories were identified: (1) the experience of mothers; (2) breastfeeding support and (3) the involvement of the community health care nurse. We found that mothers' ideas about breastfeeding are often idealized and that they need professional information and support in order to establish and maintain breastfeeding.
Discussion and conclusion: Mothers' experiences with breastfeeding are very diverse and individual, and above all, very emotional and psychologically stressful when breastfeeding does not go the way they would like it to. Professional help from a community health nurse in supporting breastfeeding is very important. It is crucial that the nurse takes enough time to guide and teach the mother how to become independent in breastfeeding.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Andrews, T., & Knaak, S. (2013). Medicalized mothering: Experiences with breastfeeding in Canada and Norway. The Sociological Review, 61(1), 88–110. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-954X.12006
Beggs, B., Koshy, L., & Neiterman, E. (2021). Women's perceptions and experiences of breastfeeding: A scoping review of the literature. BMC Public Health, 21, Article 2169. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12216-3 PMid:34836514; PMCid:PMC8626903
Blixt, I., Johansson, M., Hildingsson, I., Papoutsi, Z., & Rubertsson, C. (2019). Women's advice to healthcare professionals regarding breastfeeding: “offer sensitive individualized breastfeeding support”: An interview study. International Breastfeeding Journal, 14, Article 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-019-0247-4 PMid:31889974; PMCid:PMC6916109
Chambers, A., Emmott, EH., Myers, S., & Page, AE. (2023). Emotional and informational social support from health visitors and reastfeeding outcomes in the UK. International Breastfeeding Journal, 18(1), Article 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-023-00551-7 PMID: 36882844; PMCID: PMC9990566.
Černe Kržišnik, N., & Prosen, M. (2019). Rojstvo nedonošenega otroka in podpora zdravstvenih delavcev z vidika mater: deskriptivna fenomenološka raziskava. Obzornik zdravstvene nege, 53(3), 200–210. https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2019.53.3.750
Debevec, A. D., & Evanson, T. A. (2016). Improving breastfeeding support by understanding women's perspectives and emotional experiences of breastfeeding. Nursing for Women's Health, 20(5), 464–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nwh.2016.08.008 PMid:27719776
Drglin, Z., Fajdiga Turk, V., & Krotec, I. (2022). Svetovni teden dojenja 2022. Ljubljana. Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje. Retrieved April 2, 2023 from https://nijz.si/zivljenjski-slog/prehrana/svetovni-teden-dojenja-2022/
Eržen, M. (2016). Vloga patronažnega zdravstvenega varstva pri podpori dojenju. In B. Bratanič (Ed.), Spodbujanje in podpora dojenju: modularni tečaj za osebje zdravstvenih ustanov, za Slovenijo priredil Nacionalni odbor UNICEF-a Slovenija za spodbujanje dojenja (p. 162). Ljubljana: Slovenska fundacija za UNICEF.
Flokstra Zemljarič, J., Drglin, Z., & Gabrijelčič Blenkuš, M. (2014). Dejavniki, ki vplivajo na prakse dojenja v osrednji slovenski regiji. In: B. Bratanič, (Ed.), Dojenje – zmaga za vse življenje: dojenje iz prakse za prakso: zbornik prispevkov. Laško, 3. oktober 2014 (pp. 29–37). Ljubljana: Slovenska fundacija za UNICEF.
Fox, R., McMullen, S., & Newburn, M. (2015). UK women's experiences of breastfeeding and additional breastfeeding support: A qualitative study of Baby Café services. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 15, Article 147. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-015-0581-5
Greif, P., & Poljanec, A. (2016). Preplet dojenja in čustev: prostor razvoja uspešnega dojenja. In B. Bratanič, (Ed.), 9. mednarodni simpozij o dojenju in laktaciji, Dojenje: ključ do trajnostnega razvoja: zbornik prispevkov. Laško, 7.–8. oktober 2016 (pp. 127–143). Ljubljana: Slovenska fundacija za UNICEF.
Hale, R. (2013). Infant nutrition and the benefits of breastfeeding. British Journal of Midwifery, 15(6), 368–371. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2007.15.6.23684
Hoddinott, P. (2014). Komunikacija in podpora dojenju: kaj pomaga in kaj jo ovira? In B. Bratanič, (Ed.), Dojenje – zmaga za vse življenje: dojenje iz prakse za prakso: zbornik prispevkov. Laško, 3. oktober 2014 (pp. 39–47). Ljubljana: Slovenska fundacija za UNICEF.
Kodeks etike mednarodnega sveta medicinskih sester (ICN). (2022). Zbornica zdravstvene in babiške nege Slovenije-Zveza strokovnih društev medicinskih sester, babic in zdravstvenih tehnikov Slovenije, Ljubljana.
Krajnc, K. (2019). Dojenje in pomen podpornih skupin (diplomsko delo). Univerza v Ljubljani, Zdravstvena fakulteta. Ljubljana.
Lucchini-Raies, C., Márquez Doren, F., Garay Unjidos, N., Contreras Véliz, J., Jara Suazo, D., Calabacero Florechaes, C., Campos Romero, S., & Lopez-Dicastillo, O. (2019). Care during breastfeeding: Perceptions of mothers and health professionals. Investigación y Educación en Enfermería, 37(2). https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.iee.v37n2e09 PMid:31487446; PMCid:PMC7871484
Marshall, J. L., Ross, S., Buchanan, P., & Gavine, A. (2021). Providing effective evidence based support for breastfeeding women in primary. British Medical Journal, 375, Article e065927. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2021-065927 PMid:34725097
McFadden, A., Gavine, A., Renfrew, M., Wade, A., Buchanan, P., Taylor, J. L. … MacGillivray, S. (2017). Support for healthy breastfeeding mothers with healthy term babies. Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, 2, Article CD001141. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001141.pub5 PMid:28244064; PMCid:PMC6464485
Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje. (NIJZ). (2019). Opolnomočimo starše, omogočimo dojenje. Retrieved March 25, 2023 from https://www.nijz.si/sl/opolnomocimo-starseomogocimo-dojenje
Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje (NIJZ). (2021). Navodilo za izvajanje, beleženje in obračunavanje storitev v patronažnem varstvu. Retrieved April 2, 2023 from https://nijz.si/wpcontent/uploads/2020/12/navodila-patronaza.pdf
Polit, D.F., & Beck, C.T. 2017. Nursing Research: generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Predanič, A. (2016). Uspešnost dojenja po odpustu iz novorojencem prijazne porodnišnice v Brežicah (magistrsko del). Univerza v Ljubljani, Zdravstvena fakulteta, Ljubljana.
Ramšak Pajk, J., & Ljubič A. (Eds). 2016. Priporočila obravnave pacientov v patronažnem varstvu za diplomirane medicinske sestre. Ljubljana: Zbornica zdravstvene in babiške nege Slovenije - Zveza strokovnih društev medicinskih sester, babic in zdravstvenih tehnikov Slovenije.
Regan, P., & Ball, E. (2021). Breastfeeding mothers' experiences: The ghost in the machine. Qualitative Health Research, 23(5), 679–688. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732313481641
Santacruz-Salas, E., Aranda-Reneo, I., Segura-Fragoso, A., Cobo-Cuenca, A. I., Laredo-Aguilera, J. A., & Carmona-Torres, J. M. (2019). Mother's expectations and factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months. International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 17(1), Article 77. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010077 PMid:31861896; PMCid:PMC6981479
Shakya, P., Kunieda, M. K., Koyama, M., Rai, S. S., Miyaguchi, M., Dhakal, S., Dhakal, S. ...Jimba M (2017). Effectiveness of community-based peer support for mothers to improve their breastfeeding practices: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 12(5), Article e0177434. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177434 PMid:28510603; PMCid:PMC5433692
Skale, C. (2015). Kako svetovati materam, ko pri dojenju nastanejo težave. In A. Ljubič & M. Oštir, (Eds.), Zdravstvena nega zdravega in bolnega dojenčka: zbornik predavanj. Otočec, oktober 2015 (pp. 35–39). Ljubljana: Zveza strokovnih društev medicinskih sester, babic in zdravstvenih tehnikov Slovenije.
Skale, C. (2018). Kje doječe matere iščejo pomoč pri dojenju in kakšne nasvete dobijo? In B. Bratanič, (Ed.), 10. mednarodni simpozij o dojenju in laktaciji, Dojenje: dober temelj za življenje: zbornik prispevkov. Laško, 28.–29. september 2018 (pp. 39–49). Ljubljana: Slovenska fundacija za UNICEF.
Tekauc Golob, A. (2022). Prednosti dojenja in hranjenja z materinim mlekom za otroka. Slovenska pediatrija, 29(4), 180−184. https://doi.org/10.38031/ slovpediatr-2022-4-01.
Učakar, M. (2013). Patronažne medicinske sestre in dojenje (magistrsko delo). Univerza v Mariboru, Fakulteta za zdravstvene vede, Maribor.
UNICEF. (2018). WHO and UNICEF issue new guidance to promote breastfeeding in health facilities globally. Retrieved March 25, 2021 from https://www.who.int/news/item/11-04-2018-who-and-unicef-issue-new-guidance-to-promotebreastfeeding-in-health-facilities-globally
UNICEF. (2021). Koristi dojenja. Retrieved March 25, 2021 from https://dojenje.unicef.si/koristi-dojenja/
Valenčič, H. (2017). Dejavniki, ki zmanjšujejo uspešnost dojenja pri otročnicah in vloga medicinskih sester (diplomsko delo). Univerza v Ljubljani, Zdravstvena fakulteta, Ljubljana.
Vettorazzi, R., & Hoyer, S. (2020). Uspešno dojenje za dobro zdravje otrok in mater. Ljubljana: Slovenska fundacija za UNICEF.
Vogrinc, J. (2013). Kvalitativno raziskovanje na pedagoškem področju. Ljubljana: Pedagoška fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani.
Whelan, B., & Kearney, J.M. (2015). Breast-feeding support in Ireland: A qualitative study of health-care professionals' and women's views. Public Health Nutrition, 18(12), 2274–2282. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980014002626 PMid:25435017; PMCid:PMC10271653
World Health Organization. (WHO), n.d. Infant and young child feeding. Retrieved March 25, 2021 from https://www.who.int/data/nutrition/nlis/info/infant-and-young-child-feeding
Zdravstveni dom Ljubljana, n.d. Spremljanje dojenja. Retrieved March 25, 2021 from https://intranet.zd-lj.si/egroupware/login.php?phpgw_forward=%252Findex
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Slovenian Nursing Review
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
As the author undersigned hereby, I transfer, assign, or otherwise convey the following authorship rights as comprised in the Copyright and Related Rights Act (CRRA) to the Slovenian Nursing Review, Ob železnici 30A, 1000 Ljubljana: the right of reproduction - the exclusive right to fix the work in a material medium or in another copy directly or indirectly, temporarily or permanently, by any means and in any digital form, in whole or in part (CRRA, Article 23); the right of distribution (CRRA, Article 24); the right of making a work available and accessible through the internet (CRRA, Article 32a); the right of transformation, especially the exclusive right to translate a pre-existing work (CRRA, Article 33). The transfer of author rights applies to the article in its entirety, including pictorial and/or graphic works and possible supplements. The transfer of rights is exclusive and unlimited in duration or territory.
