Challenges and Choices in Breastfeeding Healthy, Sick and Preterm Babies: Review
Susanne H Bauer1, Harald Abele1,2, Joachim Graf1
1Institute for Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery Science, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Insights
Exclusive breastfeeding, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), faces challenges. Understanding individual, societal, and workplace factors is key to improving breastfeeding rates for healthy, sick, and preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Maternal and Child Health
- Public Health
- Lactation Science
Background:
- Breastfeeding offers significant health benefits for mothers and infants.
- Global exclusive breastfeeding rates fall short of World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.
- Numerous challenges impede the achievement of optimal breastfeeding practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research on breastfeeding challenges and choices.
- To explore factors affecting breastfeeding of healthy, sick, and preterm infants.
- To identify strategies for increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search conducted in PubMed.
- Narrative review methodology employed.
- PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) protocol applied.
- Inclusion of 57 relevant studies.
Main Results:
- Breastfeeding success is influenced by a complex interplay of individual, group, and societal factors.
- Maternal knowledge and practical skills are beneficial for breastfeeding.
- Separation of mothers from preterm infants in hospitals presents a significant barrier.
- Workplace-related issues pose challenges after maternity leave.
Conclusions:
- Addressing barriers requires a comprehensive societal approach.
- Enhanced training for healthcare professionals can improve support for breastfeeding mothers.
- Interventions must consider the unique needs of mothers with sick or preterm infants.
- Societal commitment is essential for promoting breastfeeding success.
Abstract:
Although breastfeeding is associated with many health-related benefits for both mothers and children, the WHO recommendation for exclusive breastfeeding is not achieved by the majority in any WHO region. This paper aims to present the current state of research on challenges and choices in breastfeeding healthy, sick and preterm babies. The research was organized as a systematic search in PubMed and the study was performed as a narrative review after applying the PRISMA protocol. Finally, n = 57 studies were included. Both barriers and support factors emerge as a complex interaction of individual, group and societal factors, the precise understanding of which is relevant to increasing breastfeeding rates in the future. Knowledge as well as practical skills proved to be generally helpful, whereas the lack of breastfeeding support for mothers, who are often separated from their premature babies in hospital, was identified as a key risk factor for this subgroup. Appropriate training for healthcare professionals can improve the situation as a result. After discharge, workplace-related barriers are of major concern to allow further breastfeeding when maternity leave ends. Thus, the promotion of breastfeeding must be perceived as a task for society as a whole.
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