Breastfeeding with overweight and obesity from interprofessional perspectives: challenges and needs

Overweight and obesity are common among women of reproductive age. Women with a higher body mass index are less likely to initiate breastfeeding and often breastfeed a shorter duration. They face specific challenges in breastfeeding and in accessing appropriate breastfeeding support across the pre-, peri- and postnatal period. While breastfeeding is widely recognised as important for maternal and infant health, less is known about how breastfeeding support for this group is experienced and organised in practice from interprofessional perspectives.

To explore breastfeeding challenges and support needs among women with overweight and obesity, primarily from the perspective of healthcare professionals, while including mothers' lived experience to contextualise findings.

This qualitative study was conducted in Germany and Switzerland. 22 semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals (n = 20) and mothers with lived experience (n = 2). Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis following Kuckartz (2018), combining deductive and inductive coding. Trustworthiness was strengthened through team-based coding, reflexive memoing, iterative refinement of the coding frame, peer debriefing, and double coding.

Participants described multiple challenges related to breastfeeding support for women with overweight and obesity, including inconsistent information, gaps in continuity of care, uncertainty about professional responsibilities, and a need for more sensitive and tailored support. Midwives were described as playing a particularly important role in providing practical and relational breastfeeding support.

The findings highlight the need for more consistent, stigma-sensitive coordinated, and context-sensitive breastfeeding support for women with overweight and obesity across the perinatal period. Greater attention to continuity of care, role clarity, and tailored (inter-)professional support may improve breastfeeding care outcomes for this group.