breast feeding research

[Guest guest]

Dear all,This paper, called A serial qualitative interview study of infant feeding experiences: idealism meets realism has just come out on BMJ Open (ie, it is open/free access for everyone), seehttp://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/2/e000504.full?sid=9355f5b5-8f9d-48a3-afdd-a59704bb69bc

Article focus

To investigate the perspectives of women and their wider family and social network on infant feeding from pregnancy until 6 months after birth.

To ascertain what would make a difference to their experiences of breast feeding and the introduction of other fluids and

solids.

To focus on health inequalities and to understand interactions between women, professionals, organisations and systems to

inform policy, practice and the design of complex intervention trials to improve infant feeding outcomes.

Key messages

Clashes between overt or covert idealism and realism within and between families and the health service occur at pivotal points

particularly in the early weeks after birth and around the introduction of solids.

At pivotal points, families often perceive the only solution within their control that will

restore family well-being is to

stop breast feeding or introduce solids or other fluids. Using a family-centred narrative approach could enable pivotal points

to be anticipated and resolved.

Translating global policy goals like exclusive breast feeding until 6 months into practice is unhelpful and achievable incremental goal setting is recommended.

best wishes Cowleysarahcowley183@...http://myprofile.cos.com/S124021COn