Schalla Sophie C, Witcomb Gemma L, Haycraft Emma
School of Sport, Exercise & Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Jul 11;14(7):754. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14070754.
Breastfeeding rates in the UK are low. Efforts to promote breastfeeding typically include the known health benefits for mother and child, many of which are not immediate. Gaining immediate benefits can be effective motivators of behaviour. Body-related changes resulting from breastfeeding could be an immediate benefit. This study explored breastfeeding mothers' reports of body-related changes as benefits of breastfeeding. Mothers (N = 182) who currently, or had recently, breastfed an infant completed a survey detailing their infant feeding choices and the perceived benefits of breastfeeding on their bodies. Half of the mothers felt that breastfeeding had a positive effect on their body. Benefits were grouped into five themes: (1) Returning to pre-pregnancy body shape; (2) Health benefits; (3) Physical benefits; (4) Eating benefits; (5) Psychological benefits. These themes highlight the numerous body-related benefits that mothers identified as resulting from breastfeeding and suggest that immediate, personal, and appearance-related gains of breastfeeding are highly valued. These findings indicate that interventions would likely benefit from emphasising the more immediate physical and psychological benefits of breastfeeding, alongside the health and bonding benefits, as a way to promote breastfeeding initiation and continuation in more women. This may be particularly effective for groups such as young mothers, where breastfeeding rates are low and whose emphasis on body image may be greater.
英国的母乳喂养率较低。促进母乳喂养的努力通常包括宣传母乳喂养对母亲和孩子已知的健康益处，其中许多益处并非立竿见影。获得即时的好处可能是行为的有效激励因素。母乳喂养引起的身体相关变化可能是一种即时益处。本研究探讨了母乳喂养母亲关于身体相关变化作为母乳喂养益处的报告。目前或最近母乳喂养过婴儿的母亲（N = 182）完成了一项调查，详细说明了她们的婴儿喂养选择以及母乳喂养对其身体的感知益处。一半的母亲认为母乳喂养对她们的身体有积极影响。益处分为五个主题：（1）恢复孕前体型；（2）健康益处；（3）身体益处；（4）饮食益处；（5）心理益处。这些主题突出了母亲们认为母乳喂养带来的众多与身体相关的益处，并表明母乳喂养带来的即时、个人和与外表相关的收获受到高度重视。这些发现表明，干预措施可能会受益于强调母乳喂养更直接的身体和心理益处，以及健康和情感联系益处，以此作为促进更多女性开始并持续母乳喂养的一种方式。这对于年轻母亲等群体可能特别有效，她们的母乳喂养率较低，且对身体形象的重视程度可能更高。
