Women's Experiences of Breastfeeding Beyond One Year: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Breastfeeding beyond 1 year is recommended by the World Health Organisation and is linked to multiple maternal, infant, and environmental benefits. However, rates frequently remain low in high-income countries, which may relate to social stigma, work commitments and insufficient support. This review aimed to explore the experiences of women who breastfeed beyond 1 year. Accordingly, a qualitative systematic review following the Joanna Briggs Institute meta-aggregation approach and reported to the ENTREQ statement was undertaken. Searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science from database inception to June 2026. Two reviewers were involved in the search, extraction, quality assessment and synthesis process. A total of 6831 articles were screened, and 36 studies were included, most of which were conducted in high-income countries. One hundred and thirty extracted findings were used to form 10 categories, which were developed into four synthesised findings: (1) society and culture impact acceptability and visibility of breastfeeding beyond 1 year; (2) structural and institutional constraints undermine breastfeeding beyond 1 year; (3) social networks and peer support influence breastfeeding beyond 1 year; and (4) breastfeeding beyond 1 year involves an interplay of bonding, empowerment, challenges, and adaptation. This review highlights the complex and often challenging contexts women face when breastfeeding beyond 1 year. Multi-level efforts to normalise and validate this practice are essential to better align with global health guidance. Future research should explore experiences of breastfeeding beyond 1 year in countries where it is more commonly practised.