Case Report: I feel like a mother to other babies: experiences and perspectives on bereavement and breastmilk donation from Vietnam

There is a growing recognition globally that care regarding lactation following a perinatal death needs to potentially offer the opportunity for maternal donation. This article discusses this experience and perspectives from a human milk bank (HMB) in Vietnam. This is a descriptive exploratory case...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hoang Thi Tran, Tuan Thanh Nguyen, Oanh Thi Xuan Nguyen, Roger Mathisen, Tanya M. Cassidy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Global Women's Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2023.1198738/full
_version_ 1797628927438487552
author Hoang Thi Tran
Hoang Thi Tran
Tuan Thanh Nguyen
Oanh Thi Xuan Nguyen
Roger Mathisen
Tanya M. Cassidy
author_facet Hoang Thi Tran
Hoang Thi Tran
Tuan Thanh Nguyen
Oanh Thi Xuan Nguyen
Roger Mathisen
Tanya M. Cassidy
author_sort Hoang Thi Tran
collection DOAJ
description There is a growing recognition globally that care regarding lactation following a perinatal death needs to potentially offer the opportunity for maternal donation. This article discusses this experience and perspectives from a human milk bank (HMB) in Vietnam. This is a descriptive exploratory case study that has a long tradition in both the social and health sciences. Triangulated data collection involved a review of video data, interview data with the donor, and data review for the Da Nang HMB, a Center for Excellence in Breastfeeding. We found that although it is common for mothers in Vietnam to donate breastmilk to HMBs, it is less common for this to occur following perinatal loss. We offer a descriptive case study of the maternal loss of twins and a subsequent choice to donate for approximately 1 month to the Da Nang HMB, the first HMB in Vietnam. We discuss four reasons derived from this case regarding donation following perinatal loss. (1) A strong motivation to donate breastmilk when aware of the service, (2) donating breastmilk helped her deal with grief, (3) family members supported her through this tough time and supported her decision, and (4) health staff supported her decision. While human milk sharing (e.g., wet nursing) has been practiced in Vietnam, breastmilk donation from bereaved mothers has neither been discussed nor well-researched. Because maternal grief is complex and individual, deciding to donate breastmilk is a personal decision that needs to be supported, without creating guilt for those who do not wish to donate.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T10:47:12Z
format Article
id doaj.art-8a11b1369fca4a9b8ae67c9f7416ebfb
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2673-5059
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T10:47:12Z
publishDate 2023-11-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Global Women's Health
spelling doaj.art-8a11b1369fca4a9b8ae67c9f7416ebfb2023-11-14T02:54:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Global Women's Health2673-50592023-11-01410.3389/fgwh.2023.11987381198738Case Report: I feel like a mother to other babies: experiences and perspectives on bereavement and breastmilk donation from VietnamHoang Thi Tran0Hoang Thi Tran1Tuan Thanh Nguyen2Oanh Thi Xuan Nguyen3Roger Mathisen4Tanya M. Cassidy5Neonatal Unit and Human Milk Bank, Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children, Da Nang, VietnamDepartment of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Da Nang University, Da Nang, VietnamAlive & Thrive, Global Nutrition, FHI 360, Hanoi, VietnamNeonatal Unit and Human Milk Bank, Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children, Da Nang, VietnamAlive & Thrive, Global Nutrition, FHI 360, Hanoi, VietnamSchool of Nursing, Psychotherapy, and Community Health (SNPCH), Dublin City University (DCU), Dublin, IrelandThere is a growing recognition globally that care regarding lactation following a perinatal death needs to potentially offer the opportunity for maternal donation. This article discusses this experience and perspectives from a human milk bank (HMB) in Vietnam. This is a descriptive exploratory case study that has a long tradition in both the social and health sciences. Triangulated data collection involved a review of video data, interview data with the donor, and data review for the Da Nang HMB, a Center for Excellence in Breastfeeding. We found that although it is common for mothers in Vietnam to donate breastmilk to HMBs, it is less common for this to occur following perinatal loss. We offer a descriptive case study of the maternal loss of twins and a subsequent choice to donate for approximately 1 month to the Da Nang HMB, the first HMB in Vietnam. We discuss four reasons derived from this case regarding donation following perinatal loss. (1) A strong motivation to donate breastmilk when aware of the service, (2) donating breastmilk helped her deal with grief, (3) family members supported her through this tough time and supported her decision, and (4) health staff supported her decision. While human milk sharing (e.g., wet nursing) has been practiced in Vietnam, breastmilk donation from bereaved mothers has neither been discussed nor well-researched. Because maternal grief is complex and individual, deciding to donate breastmilk is a personal decision that needs to be supported, without creating guilt for those who do not wish to donate.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2023.1198738/fullanthropologybereavementbreastfeedingchild health and nutritionhuman milkhuman milk banking
spellingShingle Hoang Thi Tran
Hoang Thi Tran
Tuan Thanh Nguyen
Oanh Thi Xuan Nguyen
Roger Mathisen
Tanya M. Cassidy
Case Report: I feel like a mother to other babies: experiences and perspectives on bereavement and breastmilk donation from Vietnam
Frontiers in Global Women's Health
anthropology
bereavement
breastfeeding
child health and nutrition
human milk
human milk banking
title Case Report: I feel like a mother to other babies: experiences and perspectives on bereavement and breastmilk donation from Vietnam
title_full Case Report: I feel like a mother to other babies: experiences and perspectives on bereavement and breastmilk donation from Vietnam
title_fullStr Case Report: I feel like a mother to other babies: experiences and perspectives on bereavement and breastmilk donation from Vietnam
title_full_unstemmed Case Report: I feel like a mother to other babies: experiences and perspectives on bereavement and breastmilk donation from Vietnam
title_short Case Report: I feel like a mother to other babies: experiences and perspectives on bereavement and breastmilk donation from Vietnam
title_sort case report i feel like a mother to other babies experiences and perspectives on bereavement and breastmilk donation from vietnam
topic anthropology
bereavement
breastfeeding
child health and nutrition
human milk
human milk banking
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2023.1198738/full
work_keys_str_mv AT hoangthitran casereportifeellikeamothertootherbabiesexperiencesandperspectivesonbereavementandbreastmilkdonationfromvietnam
AT hoangthitran casereportifeellikeamothertootherbabiesexperiencesandperspectivesonbereavementandbreastmilkdonationfromvietnam
AT tuanthanhnguyen casereportifeellikeamothertootherbabiesexperiencesandperspectivesonbereavementandbreastmilkdonationfromvietnam
AT oanhthixuannguyen casereportifeellikeamothertootherbabiesexperiencesandperspectivesonbereavementandbreastmilkdonationfromvietnam
AT rogermathisen casereportifeellikeamothertootherbabiesexperiencesandperspectivesonbereavementandbreastmilkdonationfromvietnam
AT tanyamcassidy casereportifeellikeamothertootherbabiesexperiencesandperspectivesonbereavementandbreastmilkdonationfromvietnam