The emotional and practical experiences of formula‐feeding mothers

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15535569
AutoresVictoria Fallon (0000-0002-7350-2568, autor correspondente), Sophia Komninou (0000-0002-3835-8302, University of Liverpool), Kate M Bennett (Department of Psychological Sciences, Eleanor Rathbone Building, Bedford St South University of Liverpool Liverpool UK), Kate Bennett (0000-0003-3164-6894, University of Liverpool), Jason C G Halford (0000-0003-1629-3189, University of Liverpool), Joanne A Harrold (0000-0002-0899-4586, University of Liverpool)
Ano2016
Volume13
Fascículo4
Data de publicação2016-11-14
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoMaternal and Child Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1740-8695 • E-ISSN: 1740-8709
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/mcn.12392
PMID27862970
OpenAlexW2549998445
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas16
Referências citadas38

The majority of infant-feeding research is focused on identifying mother's reasons for the cessation of breastfeeding. The experience of mothers who choose to use formula is largely overlooked in quantitative designs. This study aimed to describe the emotional and practical experiences of mothers who formula feed in any quantity, and examine whether these experiences would vary among different cohorts of formula-feeding mothers according to prenatal feeding intention and postnatal feeding method. A total of 890 mothers of infants up to 26 weeks of age, who were currently formula feeding in any quantity, were recruited through relevant international social media sites via advertisements providing a link to an online survey. Predictors of emotional experiences included guilt, stigma, satisfaction, and defense as a result of their infant feeding choices. Practical predictor variables included support received from health professionals, respect displayed by their everyday environment, and main sources of infant feeding information. Descriptive findings from the overall sample highlighted a worryingly high percentage of mother's experienced negative emotions as a result of their decision to use formula. Multinomial logit models revealed that negative emotions such as guilt, dissatisfaction, and stigma were directly associated with feeding intention and method. The evidence suggests that the current approach to infant-feeding promotion and support may be paradoxically related to significant issues with emotional well-being. These findings support criticisms of how infant-feeding recommendations are framed by health care professionals and policy makers, and highlight a need to address formula feeding in a more balanced, woman-centered manner

Breastfeeding · Developmental psychology · Emotional support · Formula feeding · Health care · Health professionals · Infant feeding · Infant formula · Multinomial logistic regression · Promotion (chess · Social support · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Psychology · Pediatrics