title: Long-term breastfeeding support: failing mothers in need.
abstract: This qualitative study analyzes mothers' reports of breastfeeding care experiences from pregnancy through infancy. Most research on medical support for breastfeeding examines a specific practice or intervention during an isolated phase of care. Little is know about how mothers experience breastfeeding education and support from the prenatal period through their child's first year. A convenience sample of 75 black and white WIC participants with infants was recruited at three Maryland WIC agencies. In-depth interviews covered mothers' comprehensive experiences of breastfeeding education and support from pregnancy through the interview date. Most mothers received education or support from a medical professional prenatally, at the hospital, or during the child's infancy, but most also reported receiving no education or support at one or more of these stages. Mothers often felt provided education and support was cursory and inadequate. Some mothers received misinformation or encountered practitioners who were hostile or indifferent to breastfeeding. Mothers were not given referrals to available resources, even after reporting breastfeeding challenges. Mothers received inconsistent messages regarding breastfeeding within and across institutions. Mothers need consistent, sustained information and support to develop and meet personal breastfeeding goals. Medical professionals should follow guidelines issued by their own organizations as well as those from the US Surgeon General, Healthy People 2020, and the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. Prenatal, postnatal, and pediatric care providers should coordinate to provide consistent messages and practices within and across sites of care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Franklin and Marshall College, P.O. Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA. caitlin.cross-barnet@fandm.edu
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cross-Barnet
authors.forename: Marycatherine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augustyn
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Resnik
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paige
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008396:Maryland; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011181:Postnatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011632:Public Assistance; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult