Breastfeeding practice in the UK: midwives' perspectives.
Christine M Furber1, Ann M Thomson
1School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. christine.furber@manchester.ac.uk
Maternal & Child Nutrition
|January 4, 2008
Summary
English midwives aim to support breastfeeding mothers by communicating sensitively and reducing conflicting advice. However, some midwives adopt an authoritative approach, highlighting a need for improved breastfeeding education and support strategies.
Area of Science:
- Maternal and Child Health
- Nursing and Midwifery
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Increasing breastfeeding prevalence contrasts with maternal dissatisfaction regarding midwife support.
- Limited research exists on midwives' experiences in supporting breastfeeding mothers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the experiences of English midwives in their role of supporting breastfeeding mothers.
- To identify themes and challenges faced by midwives during breastfeeding support.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study utilizing grounded theory principles.
- In-depth interviews with 30 midwives in two North of England maternity hospitals.
- Constant comparative analysis of collected data.
Main Results:
- The core category identified was 'surviving baby feeding'.
- A key category, 'doing well with feeding', emerged with themes: communicating sensitively, facilitating breastfeeding, and reducing conflicting advice.
- Midwives generally valued breastfeeding, provided realistic information, and aimed to minimize maternal confusion, though some exhibited authoritative communication.
Conclusions:
- English midwives recognize the need for specific breastfeeding support for mothers.
- There is a need for enhanced breastfeeding education for midwives, focusing on assessing maternal needs and promoting maternal participation in care.
- Further research is required to understand breastfeeding mothers' expectations and needs more clearly.
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