From initiation to cessation: Turning points and coping resources in the breastfeeding experience of first-time mothers

ABSTRACT

While most mothers initiate breastfeeding, many do not continue for recommended durations. This study aimed to understand the gap between breastfeeding initiation and duration through an in-depth exploration of first-time mothers’ breastfeeding experiences. Contextual factors that may facilitate or deter breastfeeding maintenance were explored by identifying common turning points (significant events or periods promoting a change in thoughts/behaviors or facilitating maintenance) described by mothers with varied breastfeeding durations. In semistructured interviews conducted from March to June 2015, twenty-eight first-time mothers in Iowa were asked to describe their breastfeeding experiences from initiation through cessation. Using thematic analysis, seven turning points, consistent across varied durations and experiences were identified: breastfeeding problems, the unknowns, recurring stressors, living new life with baby, reentering social roles, special occasions, and letting go. Turning points were usually associated with stressful situations, and mothers described intrapersonal (e.g., determination) and interpersonal (e.g., social support) coping resources as facilitators of breastfeeding maintenance. These findings highlight contextual factors that may trigger turning points, representing critical intervention periods, and the importance of enhancing support networks. Interventions to facilitate longer breastfeeding durations should consider key turning points and availability of coping resources to determine strategies that best fit the mother at each point.

KEYWORDS:

• Breastfeeding duration
• first-time mothers
• turning points

Acknowledgments

All four authors were involved in the development of this article. E.S. planned the research, with assistance from S.C. and S.A. E.S. also conducted the interviews and coded transcripts. Results emerged through discussion with all four authors and were verified through member checking. E.S. wrote the manuscript with the assistance and input of S.A., S.C., and E.B. The authors would like to thank our partnering WIC clinics for assistance with recruitment, Dr Traci Schwieger for acting as the peer debriefer, and the participants for sharing their stories and experiences.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Cooperative Agreement Number [DP005021-01] under the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Centers Program, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.