School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Breastfeed Med. 2021 Jan;16(1):39-45. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2020.0200. Epub 2020 Dec 23.
Effective social support can have a critical influence on a mother's ability to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has created unprecedented barriers for breastfeeding mothers to obtain various types of support: emotional, instrumental, informational, and appraisal. However, no research has evaluated the influence the pandemic has had on breastfeeding supports. The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of social support among breastfeeding mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional phenomenological approach was taken utilizing semistructured interviews (March-June 2020) with currently breastfeeding mothers ( = 29). Data were analyzed through a process of immersion and crystallization. Mothers are still able to obtain each type of support, however, support has been negatively influenced by the pandemic. Mothers reported experiencing increased stress and isolation and had an immense desire to receive in-person support from peers, family, childcare providers, and lactation specialists. Furthermore, mothers of multiple children felt if they did not already have breastfeeding knowledge from previous experiences they would be unsuccessful in breastfeeding due to their current lack of support. Conversely, a majority of mothers felt the pandemic had positively influenced their breastfeeding journeys due to concerns of formula shortages and extended maternity leaves. Finally, mothers were concerned about safely expressing breast milk on their return to work. Mother's ability to obtain breastfeeding support has been negatively impacted by the pandemic due to the inability to engage with individuals in-person and the lack of access to childcare. First-time mothers may be at higher risk of early breastfeeding cessation due to lack of support. However, breastfeeding journeys have also been positively influenced by allowing mothers more time at home with their child. Resources are needed to support expressing breast milk in the workplace during COVID-19.
有效的社会支持对母亲启动和持续母乳喂养的能力具有至关重要的影响。冠状病毒病（COVID-19）为母乳喂养的母亲获得各种类型的支持（情感支持、物质支持、信息支持和评价支持）制造了前所未有的障碍。然而，目前还没有研究评估大流行对母乳喂养支持的影响。本研究旨在探讨 COVID-19 大流行期间母乳喂养母亲对社会支持的看法。采用横断面现象学方法，利用半结构式访谈（2020 年 3 月至 6 月）对目前正在母乳喂养的母亲（ = 29 名）进行了研究。通过沉浸和结晶的过程对数据进行了分析。母亲仍然能够获得每一种支持，但支持受到了大流行的负面影响。母亲们报告说，她们感到压力和孤立感增加，非常希望从同龄人、家人、儿童保育提供者和哺乳专家那里获得面对面的支持。此外，有多个孩子的母亲们感到，如果她们没有以前的母乳喂养经验，她们将无法成功母乳喂养，因为她们目前缺乏支持。相反，大多数母亲认为，由于担心配方奶粉短缺和延长产假，大流行对她们的母乳喂养之旅产生了积极影响。最后，母亲们担心在返回工作岗位时安全地挤奶。由于无法亲自与他人接触以及无法获得儿童保育，母亲获得母乳喂养支持的能力受到了大流行的负面影响。由于缺乏支持，初为人母的母亲可能面临更高的早期母乳喂养中断风险。然而，母乳喂养之旅也因母亲有更多时间与孩子在家中而受到积极影响。在 COVID-19 期间，需要支持在工作场所表达母乳。
