Benefits Of Breastfeeding For Mothers Research Articles

Reconfiguring the breastfeeding body in urban public spaces

The breastfeeding body is subject to overt and subversive forms of regulation and control in contemporary society, where it is sexualized and naturalized, rendered both visible and invisible, revered and found disruptive. Despite health policy espousing the benefits of breastfeeding for mother and child, duration rates in Canada remain relatively low. In this paper, I explore the spatial practices of the breastfeeding body in public, using feminist work on the body and theorizations of built form, urban space and embodied practice. Drawing on a series of feminist autoethnographic vignettes, I write my breastfeeding body into a diversity of routine urban spaces – a car, grocery store, mall, bookstore, highway, alleyway – and narrate my experiences negotiating social responses and spatial arrangements. I argue that the breastfeeding body challenges normative understandings of gender, motherhood and sexuality through its participation and presence in public space. The breastfeeding body transgresses the meaning of space and the performance of identity as it claims space for private use.

Marijuana and Breastfeeding: Applicability of the Current Literature to Clinical Practice.

With recent legalization of marijuana in numerous U.S. states, the risk of marijuana exposure via breast milk is a rising concern. This review analyzes the available human and animal literature regarding maternal use of marijuana during lactation. The findings can be categorized into four areas of analysis: effects of marijuana on the mother, transfer into milk, transfer to the offspring, and effects on the offspring. Human and animal data have reported decreased prolactin levels as well as potential maternal psychological changes. Animal and human studies have reported transfer into milk; levels were detected in animal offspring, and metabolites were excreted by both human and animal offspring. Further, animal data have predominately displayed motor, neurobehavioral, and developmental effects, whereas human data suggested possible psychomotor outcomes; however, some studies reported no effect. Despite these results, many human studies were marred by limitations, including small sample sizes and confounding variables. Also, the applicability of animal data to the human population is questionable and the true risk of adverse effects is not entirely known. There are large gaps in the literature that need to be addressed; in particular, studies need to focus on evaluating the short- and long-term consequences of maternal marijuana use for the infant and the potential for different risks based on the frequency of maternal use. Until further evidence becomes available, practitioners need to weigh the benefits of breastfeeding for mother and child, with the potential influence of marijuana on infant development when determining the infant's most suitable form of nutrition.

Brookings supports breastfeeding: using public deliberation as a community-engaged approach to dissemination of research.

Empirical evidence demonstrates myriad benefits of breastfeeding for mother and child, along with benefits to businesses that support breastfeeding. Federal and state legislation requires workplace support for pumping and provides protections for public breastfeeding. Yet, many are unaware of these laws, and thus, support systems remain underdeveloped. We used a community-based approach to spread awareness about the evidence-based benefits of breastfeeding and breastfeeding support. We worked to improve breastfeeding support at the local hospital, among local employers, and throughout the broader community. Our coalition representing the hospital, the chamber of commerce, the university, and local lactation consultants used a public deliberation model for dissemination. We held focus groups, hosted a public conversation, spoke to local organizations, and promoted these efforts through local media. The hospital achieved Baby-Friendly status and opened a Baby Café. Breastfeeding support in the community improved through policies, designated pumping spaces, and signage that supports public breastfeeding at local businesses. Community awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and breastfeeding support increased; the breastfeeding support coalition remains active. The public deliberation process for dissemination engaged the community with evidence-based promotion of breastfeeding support, increased agency, and produced sustainable results tailored to the community's unique needs.

Cultural Norms in Conflict: Breastfeeding Among Hispanic Immigrants in Rural Washington State.

Objectives To examine perceptions, experiences, and attitudes towards breastfeeding among Hispanic women living in rural Washington State. Methods Twenty parous Hispanic women of low acculturation, aged 25-48years and residents in rural Washington State participated in an exploratory, face-to-face interview. Interviews were audio-recorded, translated and transcribed, and analyzed using a thematic content analysis approach. Results Nine emergent themes were grouped into three overarching categories: (1) Breast is best; (2) Hispanic cultural and familial expectations to breastfeed; and (3) Adapting to life in the United States: cultural norms in conflict. Women said they were motivated to breastfeed because of their knowledge and observations of its health benefits for mother and child. They said breastfeeding is ingrained in their Hispanic cultural heritage, and infant feeding choices of female family members were particularly influential in women's own decision to breastfeed. Women said they experienced embarrassment about breastfeeding in the United States and as a result, often chose to initiate formula feeding as a complement so as to avoid feelings of shame. Additionally, they faced economic pressure to work, key barriers for continued breastfeeding among Hispanics in the United States. Conclusions for Practice Knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding for mother and child and longstanding cultural practices of breastfeeding are not enough to encourage exclusive breastfeeding to 6months among this rural Hispanic population. Continued support through family-level interventions as well as work place policies that encourage breastfeeding are needed for rural Hispanics to reach optimal breastfeeding rates.

The struggle for inter-professional teamwork and collaboration in maternity care: Austrian health professionals' perspectives on the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.

BackgroundThe health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies are well documented in the scientific literature. Research suggests that support of breastfeeding during pre- and postnatal maternity care is an important determinant of breastfeeding initiation and duration. To support and promote breastfeeding on maternity units, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched in 1991. In Austria, however, less than one fifth of hospitals with a maternity unit are currently BFHI-certified. Implementation of BFHI and adjunct changes in work practices seem to represent a major challenge to maternity units. This article builds upon previous research that has identified a number of facilitators of and barriers to BFHI implementation in Austria. A major barrier has been the lack of intra- and inter-professional collaboration. Therefore, this article investigates the ways in which different healthcare professionals struggle to work together to successfully integrate the BFHI into practice.MethodsIn this study, a qualitative research approach was used. Thirty-six semi-structured interviews with 11 midwives, 11 nurses, 13 physicians, and one quality manager, working across three maternity units, were interviewed on-site. Data analysis followed thematic analysis.ResultsMidwives, nurses, and physicians had diverse approaches to childbirth and breastfeeding (medicalization vs. naturalness) and worked along different jurisdictions that became manifest in strict spatial divisions of maternity units. In their engagement within the BFHI, midwives, nurses, and physicians pursued different strategies (safeguarding vs. circumvention strategies). These differences hindered inter-professional teamwork and collaboration and, therefore, the integration of BFHI into practice.ConclusionsDiffering approaches to childbirth and breastfeeding, deep seated professional jurisdictions, as well as spatial constraints, challenge inter-professional teamwork and collaboration on maternity units. Inter-professional teamwork and collaboration are widely espoused goals of contemporary healthcare improvement strategies. Yet, critical debate on how these goals can be integrated into practice is needed. To enable collaboration and facilitate the implementation of programs such as BFHI, the different perspectives of health professionals should be brought together and the potential for integrating different forms of knowledge and practices should be considered.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12913-016-1336-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Assessment of knowledge of mothers regarding benefits of exclusive breast feeding in mother and children: a hospital based study

Background: Breastfeeding, a component of primary health care has been identified world over as greatest protection of child health. Irrespective of the fact that breastfeeding in India is universal, psychological barrier still exist in early breastfeeding. Hence a study was conducted to find benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and for their child . Objectives of the study were to study benefits of breast feeding in mothers and to study benefits of exclusive breast feeding among children Methods: The study was conducted in Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital and its urban and rural health centres. 500 women who had nursed in last 5 years were interviewed using structured questionnaire. Results: 500 mothers were interviewed over a period of 6 months.31% were from semi urban, 52% population was from the urban area, 17% were from rural.72 percent mothers initiated breast feeding on the first day with 83% feeding their new born colostrum . Conclusions: This study emphasises that mother should be educated and motivated for exclusive breastfeeding their babies for 6 months and continue breastfeeding till 2 years. The benefits of breastfeeding for mothers should be explained for this purpose.

Comparing short- and long-term breastfeeding models

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is, as the health benefits of breastfeeding for mother and child have already been fully ascertained, to highlight the differences on why short- and long-term breastfeeding mothers adopt their respective behaviours. Based on these findings, a model for long-term breastfeeding is put forward here. The aim is to identify the specific variables and processes that create confidence during the early days in breastfeeding mothers so that social marketing campaigns can be deployed more effectively to sustain this behaviour over time.Design/methodology/approach– The validity and reliability of the scales used were tested using Cronbach’s alpha and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Differences in cognition, attitudes and behaviour with respect to breastfeeding between the short- and long-term breastfeeding mothers were analysed with ANOVA and multi-group structural equation modelling. An independent self-administered questionnaire was given to 311 breastfeeding mothers in 2008. The surveys were carried out at the Maternity Hospital together with five other medical centres on the island of Gran Canaria (5 per cent error and 95 per cent reliability). This can be considered to be a fair representation of trends in breastfeeding in Spain, as most births take place in similar state hospitals.Findings– As expected, short- and long-term breastfeeding mothers differed over the key variables. While attitudes toward, and knowledge of, breastfeeding produce the adoption of breastfeeding, long-term commitment seems to relate more to general knowledge on health and other intangibles.Practical implications– In light of these results, specific marketing efforts should be designed to achieve the continuation of breastfeeding. Interventions that focus on attitudes toward, and knowledge of, breastfeeding may prove ineffective.Originality/value– As many worldwide research projects suggest, the extremely large percentage of mothers who discontinue breastfeeding before the infant reaches six months of age represent a greater challenge than the relatively low percentage of mothers who choose not to breastfeed from the beginning. This paper focuses on long-term commitment and outlines a possible model to promote the same.

Developing and testing an online breastfeeding training among undergraduate nursing students

The benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies have been well documented in the scientific literature, with new evidence about the benefits continuing to emerge. The Surgeon General's call to action to support breastfeeding recommends mandatory breastfeeding education and training for all healthcare providers that deliver care to mothers and babies. The purpose of this study is to analyze the development of an online computer based breastfeeding training (BT) and the preliminary outcomes of this training. The development of this training included consultation with content and technology experts. The collection of preliminary outcomes related to breastfeeding knowledge data and evaluation of the online BT was pre and posttest study. Eighty six undergraduate nursing students completed the online BT using Blackboard Learn. The online component of the BT consisted of five modules with a combined length of approximately 16 hours. After the completion of the modules, the students increased their levels of knowledge related to breastfeeding and the majority believed that they were fully able to perform skills to support breastfeeding. The results of this study indicate that a successful BT for nursing students can be effectively designed, which can in the future be disseminated to other healthcare providers and students. In addition, this online BT was cost-efficient and effective in improving students' knowledge and skills to support breastfeeding.

Exclusive Breastfeeding and its Related Factors among Infants in Bandar Abbas City, Iran

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Breast milk is the best way of nutrition in the early months of infant’s life and plays an important role for growth, physical and mental health of children. Despite the benefits of breastfeeding for mother and her children health, most of mothers do not continue their breastfeeding. This study aims at the exclusive breastfeeding and its correlates among infants in Bandar Abbas city, Iran. METHODS: In this cross sectional study, 800 mothers who had infant above 6 months old were selected from health centers in Bandar Abbas city using clustered sampling framework during 2009-2012. Information about exclusive breastfeeding and socio-economic factors were gathered through a questionnaire and interview with mothers. FINDINGS: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 55.4. No history of specific disease in mother during pregnancy, breastfeeding experience, sufficiency of mother’s milk, wanted pregnancy, singleton baby, beginning the breastfeeding in first 2 hours after delivery, birth in hospital and no pacifier use are the determinants of exclusive breastfeeding (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that more than half of the infants less than 6 months had exclusively breastfeeding and beginning the breastfeeding in first 2 hours after birth is one of the most influential factors in exclusive breastfeeding. © 2014, Babol University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.

Adolescents’ Needs for Nurses’ Support When Initiating Breastfeeding

Increasing the number of infants who are breastfed has become a worldwide health priority because of the extensively documented health and economic benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and their children. It is unfortunate that adolescents initiate and continue breastfeeding at rates lower than adult women. Health care providers can improve these breastfeeding rates through the social support they offer adolescent mothers as they initiate breastfeeding. The purpose of this study was to explore the needs of adolescents for social support from nurses when initiating breastfeeding. Secondary qualitative content analysis of 90 adolescents' responses to 2 open-ended questions was conducted using social support theory as a framework. The 2 researchers independently categorized each response as informational, instrumental, emotional, and/or appraisal social support. Adolescent mothers wanted nurses to take the time to explain breastfeeding, answer their questions, and provide consistent information that supported their informational needs. Emotional needs were met as the nurse provided for the adolescents' privacy, treated them with respect, and stayed calm. Nurses met adolescents' appraisal support needs through praise and encouragement. Participants valued instrumental support that included being given opportunities to work out breastfeeding under a nurse's guidance. Adolescents needed a combination of informational, instrumental, emotional, and appraisal support. Adolescent mothers appreciate and value nurses who take the time to dialogue with them about breastfeeding.

Infant Feeding Practice and Associated Factors among HIV Positive Mothers Enrolled in Governmental Health Facilities in Mekelle Town, Tigray Region, North Ethiopia

Background: The transmission of HIV through breastfeeding has created a dilemma for public health programs and for mothers and families affected by the disease. The benefits of breastfeeding for mother and infant have been well documented. The increased risks of infant morbidity and mortality associated with artificial feeding in resource poor settings are also well known. Although World Health Organization global public health recommendation for Mothers known to be HIV-infected should exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first 6 months of life, introducing appropriate complementary foods thereafter, and continue breastfeeding for the first 12 months of life. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess Infant feeding practice and associated factors on HIV positive mothers. Method: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted in governmental health facilities Result: A total of 207 HIV positive mothers participated in the study making the response rate of 100%. Of all respondent, More than 90% of HEIs were exclusively breastfed; 6.3% were mixed fed’ and 3.4% were exclusively replacement fed.In multivariate analysis, attitude of infant feeding option and those who receive education & counselling on infant feeding option during pregnancy in ANC were found to be independently associated (p-value of < 0.05) with Exclusive breast feeding ways of infant feeding practice. Conclusion and recommendation: Exclusive breast feeding was the leading proportion of feeding practice and exclusive replacement feeding was small proportion. This could be an advised way of infant feeding practice by World Health Organization and Ethiopia Minister of Health.Finally it is recommended that all HIV positive mothers should be provided with adequate information to enable them to select the best feeding option for their babies and to successfully carry out their infant feeding decisions.

Achieving Baby Friendly Status Through a National Collaborative

Newborn Care Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program The National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ), working closely with Baby‐Friendly USA, has formed a nationwide collaborative titled Best Fed Beginnings. The collaborative awarded participation to 90 hospitals. The goal of the project is for hospitals to implement evidence‐based quality improvements to their maternity care services that result in increased breastfeeding support for mothers and their infants. Participation in this collaborative will help hospitals achieve Baby Friendly status. We describe the journey of Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns in this collaborative from the application process through actual designation. Proposed Change Involvement in the collaborative is focused on applying the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding as outlined by Baby‐Friendly USA. Imperative to success is engaging an interdisciplinary team at the hospital, including a mother from the community. Another essential component is the collaborative hospital team's attendance at three learning sessions over the 22‐month project. Connecting with other participating hospital teams allows for sharing of best practice strategies, identifying lessons learned, overcoming common barriers, and expediting the Baby Friendly designation process. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation Immersion into the collaborative began in June 2012. Established outcomes were identified and were evaluated monthly during the project: (a) 80% of staff caring for healthy mother–baby couplets will receive training on lactation support; (b) the infant feeding policy will be compliant with Baby Friendly guidelines; (c) 100% of staff will complete documentation of pertinent breastfeeding information; (d) ongoing data collection will be automated with the electronic medical record; (e) all breast milk substitutes and supplies will be purchased; and (f) 90% of healthy infants will be exclusively breastfed from birth to discharge. Implications for Nursing Practice Literature is replete with the extensive benefits of breastfeeding for mothers, infants, and society. Numerous studies also indicate that exclusive breastfeeding during the early postpartum stay is one of the most influential indicators on duration of breastfeeding after discharge. Hospitals that are designated as Baby Friendly have a demonstrated increase in exclusive breastfeeding rates compared with nondesignated hospitals. Participating in a national collaborative will assist with increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates by culturally changing the breastfeeding practices for healthcare providers and consumers. Subsequently, this will assist the entire United States in meeting the Healthy People 2020 goals.

Is Baby-Friendly Breastfeeding Mother-Friendly?

Objective: To assess the lifetime (previous and present positive history) and point (present positive history) prevalence of breastfeeding position–related musculoskeletal pain (BPRMSP) among breastfeeding mothers attending selected baby-friendly facilities in southwestern Nigeria. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Background: The benefits of breastfeeding for mother and child are well documented. However, musculoskeletal pain associated with breastfeeding positions has not been well investigated. Materials and Measures: A total of 383 mothers who practiced exclusive breastfeeding volunteered for this study, yielding a response rate of 95.7%. Data were obtained on sociodemographics, breastfeeding positions, and BPRMSP. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at the .05 α level. Results: The respondents' mean age was 29.0 ± 4.96 years, and 60.6% of the respondents reported no positive history of BPRMSP. Lifetime and point prevalence of BPRMSP were 39.4% and 15.9%, respectively. Breastfeeding position–related musculoskeletal pain occurred mostly with sitting on a mat (20.5%) or bedside (39.4%) and affected the neck (20.5%), neck and shoulder (16.6%), or back and neck (12.6%). The BPRMSP severity ranged between 2.4 and 5.8 on a 10-point scale, occurred mostly within 3 to 6 months of birth (39.7%), was typically intermittent (58.3%), and required the use of medication in 53.6% of the respondents. Parity and younger age were significantly associated with the prevalence of BPRMSP (P < .05). Primiparae had higher lifetime (24.5%) and point (10.4%) prevalence of BPRMSP. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal pain in breastfeeding is common among mothers who breastfed sitting on a mat or bedside. The pain is often mild, affecting mostly the neck, shoulder, and back. Breastfeeding primiparae and younger mothers had higher rates of musculoskeletal pain.

Exploring women's views of breastfeeding: a focus group study within an area with high levels of socio-economic deprivation.

There is ample evidence of the short- and long-term health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and infants, yet breastfeeding rates remain low in the UK, particularly in areas of high social deprivation. It is imperative that appropriate strategies are utilized to support more women to initiate and continue breastfeeding. This study used focus group methodology to explore women's views in relation to breastfeeding. The study was conducted within an area with high levels of socio-economic deprivation in the north-east of England and aimed to identify local barriers to breastfeeding, influences on choice of infant-feeding method and strategies which might improve breastfeeding rates. Focus group discussions were conducted with low-income women, adolescent women and women from a minority ethnic group. The five key themes that emerged from the data were: society's negative attitudes towards breastfeeding; the influence of family and friends and the experience on choice of method of infant feeding; lack of knowledge of some aspects of infant feeding; perceptions of professional support; and women's positive and negative experiences of breastfeeding. Recommendations for promoting and supporting breastfeeding include improving facilities to breastfeed in public, enhancing the provision of information, addressing conflicting advice and poor professional practice and implementing support mechanisms. The findings and recommendations have been used to develop a breastfeeding strategy to meet local needs. This project was funded by the English Department of Health Infant Feeding Initiative.

A breastfeeding study in a rural population in South Australia

The benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies are well recognised; however, challenges to its establishment and maintenance exist in rural locations. This study in a rural community aimed to: (1) collect rates of any breastfeeding at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months postpartum; and (2) seek women's postnatal breastfeeding needs and discern how they were met. Fifty-eight women, most of whom had planned to birth at one of two rural hospitals with fewer than 50 births a year were interviewed face-to-face or by telephone. Questions included whether they were still breastfeeding, reasons for stopping, and their breastfeeding support needs in hospital and after discharge on eight domains: establishment; attachment; engorgement; sore nipples; cracked nipples; ongoing support; supply and mastitis. The number breastfeeding at 3 months (55%) compared poorly with South Australia (62%) or nationally (63%). Midwives met most of the needs of the women in hospital while, at home, midwives and GPs remained the main sources of support. At home, small numbers contacted the Australian Breastfeeding Association, child and youth health service nurse; a midwife employed by a pharmacist and family members such as mothers and mothers-in-law for support. Overall, 25% of women who had an identified need did not seek help. Of those who did, 36% had the need met well and 28% poorly. After discharge, 52 (90%) would have welcomed a visit from a community midwife had it been available. In the regional town, facilities to breastfeed and change babies' nappies were rated poor or non-existent. Since this study, a part-time community midwife has been employed and a new project initiated that educates and assists older women volunteers to support and promote breastfeeding for isolated new mothers.

The health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers

Over the past thirty years much research and medical study has seen breastfeeding reconfirmed as the best option for the health of infants, so much so that it has influenced public health policies. As a result, research on the beneficial effects of breastfeeding on the health of mothers is somewhat limited. But information, which supports the view that there are significant positive health benefits for the breastfeeding mother, is growing. Most significant is information on breastfeeding's links to limiting the risks of various cancers, osteoporosis and diabetes. It is also found to be beneficial for uterine involution, weight loss, natural contraception and reducing stress. Yet, it is still the case in the UK that women are not opting to breastfeed in large enough numbers, or are breastfeeding for a very short time. Mothers need to be encouraged to breastfeed for their own health benefits as well as those of their child's. When making infant feeding decisions, women need to be well-informed about all aspects.

Breastfeeding duration in an Australian population: the influence of modifiable antenatal factors.

Despite well-documented health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies, most women discontinue breastfeeding before the recommended 12 months to 2 years. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of modifiable antenatal variables on breastfeeding outcomes. A prospective, longitudinal study was conducted with 300 pregnant, Australian women. Questionnaires containing variables of interest were administered to women during their last trimester; infant feeding method was assessed at 1 week and 4 months postpartum. Intended breastfeeding duration and breastfeeding self-efficacy were identified as the most significant modifiable variables predictive of breastfeeding outcomes. Mothers who intended to breastfeed for < 6 months were 2.4 times as likely to have discontinued breastfeeding at 4 months compared to those who intended to breastfeed for > 12 months (35.7% vs 87.5%). Similarly, mothers with high breastfeeding self-efficacy were more likely to be breastfeeding compared to mothers with low self-efficacy (79.3% vs 50.0%).

XENOBIOTICS AND BREASTFEEDING

Breastfeeding provides important benefits to mothers and infants and should be encouraged strongly as the optimal feeding choice for most infants. In assessing the effects of maternal medication on breastfeeding, clinicians must weigh the many benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and infants against the risk for exposing infants to a drug as it is present in breast milk. With regard to most medications, continued breastfeeding despite drug exposure is advantageous to mothers and infants.

Exploring large employers' and small employers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices on breastfeeding support in the workplace.

Human resource professionals from different industries participated in focus groups in Austin, Texas. From a social marketing perspective, employers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices in providing breastfeeding support for lactating employees were explored. Employers knew about the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and children. However, they did not place a high priority on providing breastfeeding support. Employers identified the barriers to and motivators for providing breastfeeding support, as well as effective communication and marketing strategies for the dissemination of breastfeeding support messages and materials for employers. Participants revealed important employer variables, such as the size of the company or agency, that must be considered when designing social marketing campaigns that target employers. This research provided in-depth, qualitative data useful for designing social marketing campaigns that target employers and for further investigation using qualitative and quantitative research methods.