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Basic instinct? : an exploration into the nature of breastfeeding experiences of women attending three different breastfeeding education programmes

Basic instinct? : an exploration into the nature of breastfeeding experiences of women attending three different breastfeeding education programmes
Basic instinct? : an exploration into the nature of breastfeeding experiences of women attending three different breastfeeding education programmes

This study attempted to gain insight into the breastfeeding experiences of 48 mature, well-educated, middle class mothers, and to question whether attendance on breastfeeding education programmes, provided by the National Health Service (NHS), National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and La Leche League (LLL), made any difference to the way these mothers coped with breastfeeding.

Exploratory observation and interview studies revealed that the NHS programme was characterised by didactic teaching methods and a preventative approach to health education. The LLL favoured facilitated group discussion and a self-empowerment approach. The NCT used a combination of didactic and interactive teaching methods, and also combined preventative and self-empowerment approaches.

The findings suggest that the mothers in this study actively sought out the education programme that most closely met their own views on infant feeding, and provided the support that they needed to follow through their desire to breastfeed for the length of time they wished to do so. The average breastfeeding duration was 32 months in the LLL group, compared with 5 months (NCT) and 3 months (NHS).

The majority of the mothers experienced a wide range of breastfeeding complications (including mastitis), yet 34 of the 48 mothers continued to breastfeed for a minimum of 4 months. The findings suggest that lack of preparation of new mothers for breastfeeding problems, lack of appropriate support from their male partner, and fears of a loss of freedom as a result of breastfeeding all compound to make breastfeeding difficult for women in Britain. The generation of a strong motivation to breastfeed and the promotion of breastfeeding education programmes that encourage mother-to-mother support, facilitate group discussion and adopt a self-empowerment approach may be the most important factors in enabling new mothers to overcome these barriers and breastfeed successfully for an optimum duration for their own health, as well as that of their child.

University of Southampton
Bysshe, Janette Elizabeth
Bysshe, Janette Elizabeth

Bysshe, Janette Elizabeth (1996) Basic instinct? : an exploration into the nature of breastfeeding experiences of women attending three different breastfeeding education programmes. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

This study attempted to gain insight into the breastfeeding experiences of 48 mature, well-educated, middle class mothers, and to question whether attendance on breastfeeding education programmes, provided by the National Health Service (NHS), National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and La Leche League (LLL), made any difference to the way these mothers coped with breastfeeding.

Exploratory observation and interview studies revealed that the NHS programme was characterised by didactic teaching methods and a preventative approach to health education. The LLL favoured facilitated group discussion and a self-empowerment approach. The NCT used a combination of didactic and interactive teaching methods, and also combined preventative and self-empowerment approaches.

The findings suggest that the mothers in this study actively sought out the education programme that most closely met their own views on infant feeding, and provided the support that they needed to follow through their desire to breastfeed for the length of time they wished to do so. The average breastfeeding duration was 32 months in the LLL group, compared with 5 months (NCT) and 3 months (NHS).

The majority of the mothers experienced a wide range of breastfeeding complications (including mastitis), yet 34 of the 48 mothers continued to breastfeed for a minimum of 4 months. The findings suggest that lack of preparation of new mothers for breastfeeding problems, lack of appropriate support from their male partner, and fears of a loss of freedom as a result of breastfeeding all compound to make breastfeeding difficult for women in Britain. The generation of a strong motivation to breastfeed and the promotion of breastfeeding education programmes that encourage mother-to-mother support, facilitate group discussion and adopt a self-empowerment approach may be the most important factors in enabling new mothers to overcome these barriers and breastfeed successfully for an optimum duration for their own health, as well as that of their child.

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More information

Published date: 1996

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 459536
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/459536
PURE UUID: 7102800e-5a75-4d47-b133-de67f1845303

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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 17:13
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 17:13

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Contributors

Author: Janette Elizabeth Bysshe

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