Fathers & Breastfeeding

The role of fathers during breastfeeding

OBJECTIVE

identify fathers' perceptions of their role in a breastfeeding context.

SETTING

three different geographic areas (urban, semi-urban, and rural) of Quebec, a francophone province in Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

43 fathers whose children had been exclusively breastfed for a minimum of six months.

METHODS

a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was undertaken. Thematic analysis of the interviews was carried out with NVivo 11.

FINDINGS

variations were identified in the role of father during breastfeeding, namely, 1) acting as partners in decision-making; 2) being responsible for the family functioning, and 3) providing emotional support to the mother. These different variants each entail challenges and tasks.

KEY CONCLUSIONS

participating fathers perceived their role as much more complex than the limited role of breastfeeding facilitator that is usually attributed to them. Fathers saw themselves as stakeholders in decision-making relating to how their child was fed and they reacted to the imbalance created by breastfeeding. Their involvement occurred at several levels: that of their child, their spouse, and their family.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

these results suggest that more attention should be given to fathers' roles in a breastfeeding context and more investigation is required into the extent to which health professionals, such as midwives and nurses, support fathers in managing these various roles and the challenges they entail.

Fathers' thoughts on breastfeeding and implications for a theory-based intervention

OBJECTIVE

To explore male partner's perceptions of breastfeeding to inform the development of interventions to increase their support of breastfeeding.

DESIGN

Qualitative grounded theory.

SETTING

Participants were recruited and interviewed in two Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics located Honolulu, Hawai'i.

PARTICIPANTS

Fourteen male partners of low-income pregnant women or new mothers.

METHODS

Male partner attitudes, knowledge, and feelings were collected through private interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and data were analyzed using grounded theory methods.

RESULTS

All men appreciated breastfeeding's health benefits, acknowledged that it was natural, and were empathetic to the efforts of their partners. The men also discussed not being involved in the breastfeeding decision, believing formula feeding was more convenient than breastfeeding, feeling left out of the infant-feeding process, and being uncomfortable with breastfeeding in public.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that an intervention to increase male partner support of breastfeeding should include multiple components to enhance knowledge, to empower men to be more engaged in the breastfeeding decision, to provide specific tips on how men can be involved in breastfeeding, and to increase comfort with breastfeeding in public. A multicomponent framework such as the social cognitive theory could be useful in guiding the development of such an intervention.