"Butterflies in the air, you're now a breastfeeding mother": A qualitative study of women's experiences receiving postnatal midwifery breastfeeding support

Background: Despite breastfeeding being widely accepted as the optimal feeding method for infants many women do not meet their breastfeeding goals or continue to breastfeed as long as recommended. Continuation of exclusive breastfeeding is multifactorial, with midwifery support during the postnatal period considered to be an important component. However, little is known about how women receive this support from midwives across varying models of care.

Aim: To explore women's experiences of midwifery education and support with postnatal infant feeding in the context of midwifery models of care.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 postnatal women, using an interpretive descriptive approach. Data were analysed through reflective thematic analysis to identify themes.

Findings: Two themes each with three subthemes were identified: (1) How midwifery breastfeeding support was provided, and (2) Expectations and realities of breastfeeding.

Discussion: Experiences of breastfeeding support and education by midwives were often reported as being superficial and at times, simplistic. Midwives offered breastfeeding guidance that focused on technical aspects of latching, which allowed for brief episodes of care before moving onto other tasks. Women described surprise at the realities of breastfeeding a baby, and the understanding that it involves more than simply providing nutrition.

Conclusion: Midwifery education and support of breastfeeding should be prioritised as an important component of care, and personalised to the woman's requirements. Specifically, it is important to provide education beyond a focus on the health benefits of breastfeeding, which may allow midwives to promote other aspects, such as positive emotional and bonding experiences.