AUTHOR=Liao Qiuyan , Yuan Jiehu , Lok Kris Yuet Wan , Ngu Siew Fei , Chen Yuyi , Lam Wendy Wing Tak 

TITLE=Learning from mothers' success in breastfeeding maintenance: coping strategies and cues to action

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1167272

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1167272

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=This study was aimed to gain insight from mothers who were successful in breastfeeding maintenance to develop interventions for promoting breastfeeding maintenance. Following the phenomenological framework, this qualitative study recruited mothers who had maintained breastfeeding for at least four months for in-depth interviews. Thirty in-depth interviews were completed. We found that almost all participants had experienced an initial adjustment period. During this period, a social support network, personal perseverance on “trying” breastfeeding and “pumping”, adjusting expectations for breastfeeding to relieve themselves from the pressure of exclusive breastfeeding, and for some, using supplementary feeding were important coping strategies. All participants then entered a stage of getting attuned when breastfeeding was easier. During this period, seeking support from the online mother groups, deliberating medication that might affect breastfeeding, adjustment to accommodate breastfeeding and lives, and managing breastfeeding in the public were the main strategies. For working mothers, despite with workplace and employers’ support, proactive adjustment for using the facilities and lactation breaks for breast milk expression was essential for breastfeeding continuation after returning to work. Throughout the whole journey, positive cues identified from their breastfeeding experiences that helped breastfeeding maintenance included enjoying breastfeeding, breastfeeding as a personal achievement, a healthy and thriving child, positive social feedbacks, bodily response, the convenience of breastfeeding and breastfeeding as a motherhood commitment. To conclude, while mothers should be mentally prepared for the difficulties of breastfeeding, they should also be encouraged that things will always get easier as they persevere. Adjustment should be made to accommodate lives and other personal needs. Future studies should consider integrating relevant cues into existing psychosocial interventions for promoting breastfeeding maintenance.