Fathers' perspectives on the breastfeeding experience: a qualitative study.
Wiebke Stritter1,2, Oana Costea1, Theresa Philomena Ertlmaier1
1Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Berlin, Germany.
Frontiers in Nutrition
|June 4, 2026
Summary
Fathers recognize breastfeeding benefits but desire more involvement. They support mothers while navigating challenges, suggesting father-inclusive education can improve breastfeeding success and paternal bonding.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Maternal and Child Health
- Sociology of the Family
Background:
- Breastfeeding provides significant health benefits for mothers and infants, with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continued breastfeeding up to two years.
- While fathers' roles in breastfeeding success are acknowledged, their lived experiences and negotiation of involvement in daily family life remain under-researched.
- Understanding paternal perspectives is crucial for comprehensive breastfeeding support strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To gain an in-depth understanding of fathers' expectations, attitudes, and involvement in the breastfeeding process.
- To explore how fathers experience and negotiate their role within the family context of breastfeeding.
- To identify factors influencing paternal support for breastfeeding.
Main Methods:
- A qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 11 fathers.
- Interviews were conducted two months after the birth of their first child.
- Participants were recruited from postnatal wards, ensuring a heterogeneous sample based on age, birth mode, breastfeeding status, and migration background.
Main Results:
- Fathers acknowledged breastfeeding benefits but also perceived disadvantages, notably reduced paternal involvement.
- Formula feeding was seen as acceptable, sometimes facilitating greater paternal participation and equitable caregiving.
- Fathers identified societal pressure on mothers and emotional barriers hindering their involvement and father-child bonding, expressing a desire for shared decision-making while deferring the final word to the mother.
Conclusions:
- Fathers' support for breastfeeding is complex, influenced by appreciation, ambivalence, and negotiated involvement.
- Targeted educational programs including fathers can enhance their support and positively impact breastfeeding duration and success.
- Future father-inclusive strategies must address knowledge gaps alongside emotional and relational complexities of the paternal role.
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