Breastfeeding women's experience of expressing: a descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Lactation Studies
• Public Health

Background:

• Maternal breast milk expression is increasingly common globally.
• Understanding women's experiences is crucial for supporting breastfeeding mothers.
• Existing research may not fully capture the nuances of milk expression practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the experiences of breastfeeding women who express breast milk.
• To identify common reasons for expressing milk and methods used.
• To document adverse effects associated with breast milk expression.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed to members of the Australian Breastfeeding Association in Victoria.
• The study achieved a response rate of 29.9% (903 out of 3024 participants).
• Data analysis focused on reasons for expressing, methods employed, and reported adverse effects.

Main Results:

• The primary reason for expressing milk was to "store extra breast milk" (57%).
• The most significant reason cited was "not enough milk" or "to make more milk" (15%).
• Electric breast pumps were used by the majority (65%) and preferred by 59% of women, though 17% reported pain and 11% nipple damage.

Conclusions:

• Electric breast pumps are widely used and preferred by breastfeeding women for milk expression.
• While breast pumps may facilitate extended breastfeeding duration, potential adverse effects require attention.
• Further research is necessary to fully understand the role and impact of breast pumps in lactation support.