Supporting young mothers who want to breastfeed

This article is a discussion of some of the current knowledge on how to best support young mothers who wish to breastfeed. It includes practice points taken from Phoebe's own qualitative research on young mothers and infant feeding and also a discussion of the valuable work of other midwives and researchers on the subject. We know that breastfeeding can have significant benefits for mothers and their babies; we also know that young mothers, as a group, are less likely to breastfeed than other mothers. Breastfeeding is an emotional subject: it can be empowering and satisfying, but it can also be a time of emotional strain and negative feelings of guilt and failure. This article aims to increase the understanding of what young mothers may want and need from breastfeeding support.