‘It’s far from the norm’

Breastfeeding beyond 1 year in the Republic of Ireland

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22945135
AutoresGillian Paul (0000-0002-5389-7304, School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University , Collins Ave Ext, Whitehall, Dublin 9 , Ireland), Niamh Vickers (0000-0002-8852-7995, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin , Belfield, Dublin 4 , Ireland), Regina Kincaid (Independent IBCLC , Malahide, Co. Dublin , Ireland), Denise McGuinness (0000-0002-6485-860X, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin , Belfield, Dublin 4 , Ireland)
Ano2024
Volume39
Fascículo4
Data de publicação2024-08-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
EditoraOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/daae088
PMID39152706
OpenAlexW4401683581
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas54

Breastfeeding is the optimal form of nutrition for infants and young children. The World Health Organization recommends that babies are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months of life, and up to the age of 2 years or beyond in combination with complementary food. Breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates are suboptimal globally and very low in the Republic of Ireland where health promotion initiatives and healthcare professional support predominantly focus on the important phase of initiation and early months of the breastfeeding journey. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore the experiences of women who chose to breastfeed their children beyond 1 year of age in the Republic of Ireland. Fourteen women participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was conducted. The analysis generated three overarching themes: (1) Influences on breastfeeding beyond 1 year, (2) Sustaining breastfeeding and (3) Benefits of breastfeeding beyond 1 year. Family, friends, peers, culture and commercial milk formula marketing had an influence on breastfeeding journeys. Support, determination, knowledge, bed-sharing and Covid-19 pandemic social restrictions helped to sustain breastfeeding beyond 1 year. Benefits of breastfeeding beyond 1 year such as nutrition, strengthening of emotional bonds, development of a parenting tool, and protection of child and maternal health were identified. Our findings support the need for discussions and further research on the normalization of breastfeeding beyond 1 year in the Republic of Ireland, targeted health promotion initiatives and education programmes for healthcare professionals on supporting the continuation of breastfeeding.

Breast feeding · Breastfeeding · Breastfeeding promotion · Family medicine · Focus group · Health promotion · Public health · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Public Health and Nutrition · Pediatrics