Breastfeeding experiences and perspectives on support among Chinese mothers separated from their hospitalized preterm infants: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Chinese mothers of preterm infants often face obstacles to breastfeeding and commonly experience prolonged maternal-infant separation when their high-risk infants are hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This separation hinders mother-infant attachment and the e...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-11-01
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| Series: | International Breastfeeding Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13006-019-0242-9 |
| _version_ | 1818154253746700288 |
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| author | Yuanyuan Yang Debra Brandon Hong Lu Xiaomei Cong |
| author_facet | Yuanyuan Yang Debra Brandon Hong Lu Xiaomei Cong |
| author_sort | Yuanyuan Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Chinese mothers of preterm infants often face obstacles to breastfeeding and commonly experience prolonged maternal-infant separation when their high-risk infants are hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This separation hinders mother-infant attachment and the establishment of breastfeeding. Currently, little is known about Chinese mothers’ experiences breastfeeding their preterm infants, or their support needs. The aim of this study was to develop an understanding of mothers’ experiences breastfeeding a hospitalized preterm infant and the support needed to establish a milk supply during the period separation from their infants. Methods A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in Beijing in 2017. A total of 11 Chinese mothers were individually interviewed while separated from their infants. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis involving a seven-step protocol identified key themes. Results Mothers of preterm infants reported physically and mentally challenging breastfeeding experiences during the period they were separated from their babies. They viewed expressing breast milk as integral to their maternal role, even though some found expressing breastmilk exhausting. With little professional support available, the mothers depended upon nonprofessionals to establish breastfeeding. Conclusions The study identified the difficulties mothers experienced establishing a milk supply while separated from their preterm infants, and the importance of access to health professional support. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T14:23:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-70282cc31e45422eab543bf5f58713dd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-4358 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T14:23:35Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Breastfeeding Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-70282cc31e45422eab543bf5f58713dd2022-12-22T01:02:47ZengBMCInternational Breastfeeding Journal1746-43582019-11-011411710.1186/s13006-019-0242-9Breastfeeding experiences and perspectives on support among Chinese mothers separated from their hospitalized preterm infants: a qualitative studyYuanyuan Yang0Debra Brandon1Hong Lu2Xiaomei Cong3Peking University School of NursingDuke University School of NursingPeking University School of NursingUniversity of Connecticut School of NursingAbstract Background Chinese mothers of preterm infants often face obstacles to breastfeeding and commonly experience prolonged maternal-infant separation when their high-risk infants are hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This separation hinders mother-infant attachment and the establishment of breastfeeding. Currently, little is known about Chinese mothers’ experiences breastfeeding their preterm infants, or their support needs. The aim of this study was to develop an understanding of mothers’ experiences breastfeeding a hospitalized preterm infant and the support needed to establish a milk supply during the period separation from their infants. Methods A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in Beijing in 2017. A total of 11 Chinese mothers were individually interviewed while separated from their infants. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis involving a seven-step protocol identified key themes. Results Mothers of preterm infants reported physically and mentally challenging breastfeeding experiences during the period they were separated from their babies. They viewed expressing breast milk as integral to their maternal role, even though some found expressing breastmilk exhausting. With little professional support available, the mothers depended upon nonprofessionals to establish breastfeeding. Conclusions The study identified the difficulties mothers experienced establishing a milk supply while separated from their preterm infants, and the importance of access to health professional support.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13006-019-0242-9BreastfeedingInfantPrematureExperienceSupportSeparation |
| spellingShingle | Yuanyuan Yang Debra Brandon Hong Lu Xiaomei Cong Breastfeeding experiences and perspectives on support among Chinese mothers separated from their hospitalized preterm infants: a qualitative study International Breastfeeding Journal Breastfeeding Infant Premature Experience Support Separation |
| title | Breastfeeding experiences and perspectives on support among Chinese mothers separated from their hospitalized preterm infants: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Breastfeeding experiences and perspectives on support among Chinese mothers separated from their hospitalized preterm infants: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Breastfeeding experiences and perspectives on support among Chinese mothers separated from their hospitalized preterm infants: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breastfeeding experiences and perspectives on support among Chinese mothers separated from their hospitalized preterm infants: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Breastfeeding experiences and perspectives on support among Chinese mothers separated from their hospitalized preterm infants: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | breastfeeding experiences and perspectives on support among chinese mothers separated from their hospitalized preterm infants a qualitative study |
| topic | Breastfeeding Infant Premature Experience Support Separation |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13006-019-0242-9 |
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