Article
State of the Science for Practice to Promote Breastfeeding Success Among Young Mothers

https://doi.org/10.1053/j.nainr.2014.06.009Get rights and content

Abstract

A literature review and synthesis of qualitative and quantitative studies was conducted to evaluate the role of breastfeeding attitudes, beliefs, and support as they relate to young mothers. A search of CINAHL and PubMed was conducted for articles published from 2008–2013 using the terms breastfeeding and adolescents and duration; breastfeeding and adolescents and success; and breastfeeding and adolescents and support. Of several hundred papers identified, those articles selected for in depth review examined breastfeeding attitudes, beliefs, support, and practices. Factors contributing to breastfeeding success or failure were identified. Among them, participant descriptions reflected paradoxical factors such as: ‘breast is best’, ‘breastfeeding as not the norm’, convenience, privacy, sexuality, body image, healthcare provider support, family and peer support, and other barriers to breastfeeding. These factors were described to have both positive and negative effects on breastfeeding, at times in the same study.

Section snippets

Breastfeeding Success Among Young Mothers: State of the Science

Human breast milk has been identified as the ideal source of infant nutrition by numerous health organizations such as the World Health Organization1 and the American Academy of Pediatrics,2 which recommends exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of life. It has been determined that if 90% of all families in the United States (US) adhered to this recommendation, an estimated $13 billion in healthcare and other costs and 911 excess deaths would be avoided annually,3 due in part

State of the Science

Two previous meta-syntheses looking at BF support were completed in 2010 and 2011.8., 9. In a synthesis of 18 articles published between 2000 and 2009, the author identified the social support needs of adolescent mothers and provided a script that could be used by healthcare practitioners (HCPs) to help provide the appropriate support and in the case of network support, assess and evaluate the adequacy of the young mother’s network support when at home with her newborn.8 The five types of

Discussion

BF involves many aspects, including physiologic activity, maternal knowledge and interest, familial, peer, and societal expectations of infant feeding. Many variables such as socioeconomic status and age have been shown to be associated positively or negatively with BF initiation, duration, and exclusivity.7., 27. Due to the myriad of possible combinations, it would be impossible to design a study that evaluates all mediators and modifiers of BF. Additionally, since culture plays such a large

Conclusion

BF was found to be the second most stressful event in a first-time mother’s life in the early postpartum period and once at home, it increases to the most stressful event.25 It is asking too much of adolescent mothers to expect them to breastfeed at the rates set forth in the Healthy People 2020 goals without better support and assistance. To provide that assistance, we must first learn more about the factors that contribute to successful BF.

While the literature reviewed here looked at BF

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