Exploring the Impact of the Motherhood Penalty on Critical Care Nurses: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study

This study explores the lived experiences of critical care nurses who are also mothers, focusing on their challenges with breastfeeding and pumping at work.

Using interpretive phenomenology, grounded in Martin Heidegger's work, semi-structured interviews were conducted with critical care nurses (N = 54) who were also breastfeeding mothers in the United States in 2024. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Patricia Benner's interpretation of the hermeneutic circle in nursing data analysis to identify the essence of lived experiences in breastfeeding as a critical care nurse mother.

Four main themes emerged during the analysis. They are as follows: (1) The Impact of Workplace Environment on Breastfeeding Nurse Mothers and Their Children, (2) The Role of Organisational Support and Resources in Retaining Breastfeeding Nurse Mothers in Critical Care, (3) Team Dynamics and Career Implications of Breastfeeding for Nurse Mothers in Critical Care and (4) Organisational and Systemic Approaches to Supporting Breastfeeding Nurse Mothers in Critical Care.

The findings highlight critical gaps in workplace policies and support systems for breastfeeding nurses. Addressing these inequities through the provision of adequate lactation facilities, flexible pumping schedules and a supportive workplace culture is essential to reducing stress and enabling nurse mothers to continue breastfeeding successfully. This study underscores the need for systemic reforms to support breastfeeding in the nursing profession.

This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct or reporting.