title: Aiming to be a breastfeeding mother in a neonatal intensive care unit and at home: a thematic analysis of peer-support group discussion in social media.
abstract: Preterm infants are usually breastfed less than full-term infants, and successful breastfeeding requires a supportive environment and special efforts from their mothers. A breastfeeding peer-support group, utilising social media, was developed for these mothers in order to support them in this challenge. Mothers were able to discuss breastfeeding and share experiences. The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of breastfeeding mothers of preterm infants based on the postings in peer-support group discussions in social media. The actively participating mothers (n = 22) had given birth <35 gestational weeks. They were recruited from one university hospital in Finland. The social media postings (n = 305) were analysed using thematic analysis. A description of the process of breastfeeding a preterm infant from the point of view of a mother was created. The process consisted of three main themes: the breastfeeding paradox in hospital, the 'reality check' of breastfeeding at home and the breastfeeding experience as part of being a mother. The mothers encountered paradoxical elements in the support received in hospital; discharge was promoted at the expense of breastfeeding and pumping breast milk was emphasised over breastfeeding. After the infant's discharge, the over-optimistic expectations of mothers often met with reality - mothers did not have the knowledge or skills to manage breastfeeding at home. Successful breastfeeding was an empowering experience for the mothers, whereas unsuccessful breastfeeding induced feelings of disappointment. Therefore, the mothers of preterm infants need evidence-based breastfeeding counselling and systematic support in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and at home.
authors: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors: Hannakaisa
authors: H
authors: Niela-Vilén
authors: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Axelin
authors: VAMK University of Applied Sciences, Health care and Social Services, Vaasa, Finland.
authors: Hanna-Leena
authors: HL
authors: Melender
authors: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.|Hospital District of South-West Finland, Turku, Finland.
authors: Sanna
authors: S
authors: Salanterä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008875:Middle Aged; D008895:Milk, Human; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D061108:Social Media; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: breast milk; breastfeeding; mother support group; preterm infant; qualitative methods