Exploring Successful Breastfeeding Behaviors Among Women Who Have High Body Mass Indices.
Sharleen L O'Reilly, Marie C Conway, Eileen C O'Brien and 4 others
PMID 35708019WHAT IT FOUND
Women with high BMI who breastfed successfully for six months or more relied on personalised knowledge of benefits, consistent advice from healthcare staff, and practical aids like pillows.
Partners and clinicians described inconsistent guidance and lack of lactation support as barriers to continuing breastfeeding.
Key findings
01Participants and partners identified inconsistent advice from healthcare professionals as a barrier, with one clinician noting that conflicting guidance on feeding frequency was a major issue.
02Breastfeeding aids, particularly pillows for positioning, were described as essential facilitators for women with high BMI to manage latch difficulties and physical comfort.
03Self-efficacy and determination were critical for continuing breastfeeding despite challenges such as postnatal depression or body image stigma.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Partners were not matched to the specific participants interviewed, limiting the ability to analyse relationship dynamics. The study did not formally record participant ethnicity, so the influence of cultural factors on breastfeeding experiences could not be explored. Data were collected at a single time point, preventing observation of behavioral changes over time. Participants may not have received care from the specific healthcare professionals interviewed, so their views might not reflect the actual service experience. The study relies on self-reported success in breastfeeding, which may introduce response bias.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the National Maternity Hospital.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the proposed intervention mapping as evidence that these strategies have been tested and proven to increase breastfeeding rates. The study describes the experiences of women who were already successful and identifies barriers and enablers, but it does not evaluate the effectiveness of any intervention.