Intergenerational Transmissible Meanings in Breastfeeding in Spain: A Phenomenological Study

The process of breastfeeding is linked to intergenerational influences based on attitudes and messages of grandmothers about their own experience, and this can reinforce or interfere with the experiences of future mothers in breastfeeding. The aim of this study was to explore the meanings transmissible to the next generation of nursing mothers, based on the experiences of grandmothers.

We report the findings of an interpretive phenomenological qualitative research based on the philosophy of Martin Heidegger. In-depth interviews were conducted in Madrid with 17 participants who breastfed before the age of 35 and more than 8 years ago (to ensure the settlement of transmissible meanings in remote memory). Data were analyzed by interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA).

Two thematic categories were identified: "Breastfeeding: life experiences" and "Breastfeeding: body and mind process", which show that mothers want to convey the need for a balance that allows maintaining the role of women outside of stereotypes but that is also compatible with the rhythm of life, giving new meanings to attachment, weaning, and modesty.

Meanings that future grandmothers wish to transmit to the next generation of nursing mothers are related to the search for a satisfactory experience for the mother, who must make an adjustment in her life, freeing herself of inflexible messages about attachment and the maternal role.

Strategies to promote breastfeeding and care for nursing mothers can improve the impact of trying to understand the meanings that are transmitted by the grandmothers in the family environment.