'I only give advice if I am asked': examining the grandmother's potential to influence infant feeding decisions and parenting practices of new mothers.
BACKGROUND
Australia has high breastfeeding initiation rates however, at 3 and 6 months exclusive breastfeeding rates fall below global recommendations. Research suggests significant others in a woman's life can influence infant feeding decisions and practices but how and why they do so needs investigation.


OBJECTIVE
This study explored grandmothers' perceptions of their role in supporting new families and examined the potential for grandmothers to influence infant feeding decisions and parenting practices of new mothers in an area of Sydney, Australia, with low breastfeeding maintenance rates.


METHODS
A qualitative, descriptive study was conducted in South Western Sydney, Australia. Eleven grandmothers participated in one to one interviews and three of these also participated in a group discussion.


RESULTS
Analysis revealed three themes: 'Presence'; 'Position'; and 'Power versus Preservation' which provide insight into the complexity of the grandmother-new mother relationship and describe the potential influence that grandmothers may have on infant feeding and parenting.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings highlight challenges and dilemmas faced by grandmothers in their supportive role for the new mother in her breastfeeding and early parenting experience and the difficulties grandmothers face in balancing potential risks and rewards in their interactions with the new family.
Reid
Judy
J
School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney (UWS), Australia. je.reid@uws.edu.au
Schmied
Virginia
V
Beale
Barbara
B
D001294:Attitude to Health; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009517:New South Wales; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011209:Power, Psychological; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012201:Reward; D012380:Role; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires