Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
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The Personal Nature of Breastfeeding as Experienced by
Midwives in Clinical Practice
Teresa Meaney
Msc, BNS, DNS, RGN ,RM, RNT
Lecturer
School of nursing and Midwifery
National University of Ireland Galway
091 492927
Teresa.meaney@nuigalway.ie
Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore the experience of
midwives caring for the breastfeeding mother . A review of the
literature indicates a dearth of material relating to this issue,
despite the fact that the midwife has been identified as the key
person responsible for this aspect of maternity care (Department of
Health,1994).It appears that the issue relating to the personal
nature of breastfeeding has been lost in the accounts of the health
advantages of breastfeeding. Health professionals have tended to
focus on the biomedical model of breastfeeding exposing its benefits
for mother and baby(Cunningham et al 1991; Schmiedet al 2001).
Methods:A purposeful sample of ten registered midwives was
chosen for this study .The midwives worked in a large teaching
hospital in the Republic of Ireland.A qualitative research approach
using Heideggerian phenomenology was chosen for this study. Data
was collected using unstructured interviews. The interpretation for
the text for this study was guided by a phenomenological
hermeneutic analysis method.
Results:Analysis of the interview data revealed the personal nature
of breastfeeding as identified by midwives in clinical practice. The
following themes were identified “You have to have your heart in
it”,”Intimacy”,”It’s the ultimate””Be realistic”,”Breastfeeding is a
process”,”Determination”
Conclusion:The study findings suggested that midwives need to
address the psychosocial aspects of breastfeeding in order to
facilitate the breastfeeding mother. Breastfeeding is not simply the
physical process of feeding a baby ,but rather successful
breastfeeding involves an emotional and intimate engagement
between mother and baby that is mutually satisfying.The findings of
this study challenge the focus of maternity care to shift and include
the psychosocial aspects of breastfeeding for mother and
baby.Health professionals cannot afford to ignore the deep
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