Timing Routines With Patience: A Focused Ethnography on Newborn Breastfeeding in Hospitals
Annemi Lyng Frandsen1,2, Maren Johanne Heilskov Rytter1,2, Helle Haslund-Thomsen3,4,5
1Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Slagelse Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark.
Maternal & Child Nutrition
|December 19, 2025
Summary
Healthcare professionals
Area of Science:
- Maternal and Child Health
- Sociology of Health
- Nursing and Midwifery
Background:
- Breastfeeding offers lifelong health benefits for mothers and infants.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) targets a 70% exclusive breastfeeding rate by 2030.
- Effective breastfeeding support is essential in the postpartum period.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the contextual and social dynamics of breastfeeding support provided by healthcare professionals (HCPs).
- To examine how HCPs navigate providing care to families with breastfeeding intentions in postnatal wards.
- To understand the challenges and facilitators of breastfeeding support in a high-turnover hospital setting.
Main Methods:
- Focused ethnographic study utilizing participant observation and narrative interviews.
- Thematic analysis of detailed field notes and quotations from 20 HCPs.
- Fieldwork conducted over 78 hours across 12 days in a hospital setting.
Main Results:
- Identified three subthemes: "Routines and disruptions," "Patience in practice," and "Busy times."
- Integrated subthemes into a main theme: "Timing the routines with patience."
- Highlighted the importance of HCP availability, presence, and relational awareness for compassionate care.
Conclusions:
- Integrating patience and relational awareness into HCP training and routine design can improve breastfeeding support.
- Breastfeeding support requires organizational structures, professional education, and capacity for relational care.
- The presence and engagement of HCPs significantly impact families and professionals.
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