Mothers of children with down syndrome: A qualitative study of experiences of breastfeeding and breastfeeding support.
Lisbeth Jönsson, Christina Olsson Tyby, Sara Hullfors and 1 others
PMID 35582826WHAT IT FOUND
Mothers of children with Down syndrome wanted breastfeeding support tailored to their child's needs, but often met healthcare professionals who doubted it was possible or focused on routines and weight.
They sought information online and from peers.
Key findings
01Mothers described breastfeeding as important and meaningful, but they often had to rely on their own ability to find guidance.
02Some healthcare professionals were perceived as doubting that a child with Down syndrome could breastfeed, which made mothers feel neglected.
03Mothers wanted person-centred breastfeeding information and support, but often received general information and had to search for guidance themselves.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included a small number of Swedish-speaking mothers recruited through Down syndrome networks and habilitation receptions, so the themes may not represent all mothers of children with Down syndrome. The mothers were all of Swedish origin, and experiences may differ in other cultural or healthcare settings. The study describes perceptions of breastfeeding support; it did not test whether a different approach improves breastfeeding or other outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors state there is no conflict of interest to report.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that a person-centred breastfeeding support programme works. The study reports mothers' experiences and did not test an intervention or measure breastfeeding outcomes.