<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_fon-2018-0008_s_006_w2aab3b7b6b1b6b1aab1c17b1Aa"><h3>Objective</h3><p>This study aimed to explore the experiences of women in the process of formula feeding their infants. The World Health Organization has emphasized the importance of breastfeeding for infant health. After decades of breastfeeding promotions, breastfeeding rates in Hong Kong have been rising consistently; however, the low continuation rate is alarming. This study explores women’s experiences with formula feeding their infants, including factors affecting their decision to do so.</p></sec><sec id="j_fon-2018-0008_s_007_w2aab3b7b6b1b6b1aab1c17b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>A qualitative approach using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was adopted as the study design. Data were collected from 2014 to 2015 through individual in-depth unstructured interviews with 16 women, conducted between 3 and 12 months after the birth of their infant. Data were analyzed using IPA.</p></sec><sec id="j_fon-2018-0008_s_008_w2aab3b7b6b1b6b1aab1c17b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>Three main themes emerged as follows: (1) self-struggle, with the subthemes of feeling like a milk cow and feeling trapped; (2) family conflict, with the subtheme of sharing the spotlight; and (3) interpersonal tensions, with the subthemes of embarrassment, staring, and innocence. Many mothers suffered various stressors and frustrations during breastfeeding. These findings suggest a number of pertinent areas that need to be considered in preparing an infant feeding campaign.</p></sec><sec id="j_fon-2018-0008_s_009_w2aab3b7b6b1b6b1aab1c17b4Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The findings of this study reinforce our knowledge of women’s struggles with multiple sources of pressure, such as career demands, childcare demands, and family life after giving birth. All mothers should be given assistance in making informed decisions about the optimal approach to feeding their babies given their individual situation and be provided with support to pursue their chosen feeding method.</p></sec></abstract>

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the experiences of women in the process of formula feeding their infants. The World Health Organization has emphasized the importance of breastfeeding for infant health. After decades of breastfeeding promotions, breastfeeding rates in Hong Kong have been rising consistently; however, the low continuation rate is alarming. This study explores women’s experiences with formula feeding their infants, including factors affecting their decision to do so.MethodsA qualitative approach using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was adopted as the study design. Data were collected from 2014 to 2015 through individual in-depth unstructured interviews with 16 women, conducted between 3 and 12 months after the birth of their infant. Data were analyzed using IPA.ResultsThree main themes emerged as follows: (1) self-struggle, with the subthemes of feeling like a milk cow and feeling trapped; (2) family conflict, with the subtheme of sharing the spotlight; and (3) interpersonal tensions, with the subthemes of embarrassment, staring, and innocence. Many mothers suffered various stressors and frustrations during breastfeeding. These findings suggest a number of pertinent areas that need to be considered in preparing an infant feeding campaign.ConclusionsThe findings of this study reinforce our knowledge of women’s struggles with multiple sources of pressure, such as career demands, childcare demands, and family life after giving birth. All mothers should be given assistance in making informed decisions about the optimal approach to feeding their babies given their individual situation and be provided with support to pursue their chosen feeding method.

Women’s experiences of formula feeding their infants: an interpretative phenomenological study

Frontiers of Nursing

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the experiences of women in the process of formula feeding their infants. The World Health Organization has emphasized the...

Women’s experiences of formula feeding their infants: an interpretative phenomenological study

Article Category: Original article

Published Online: Mar 26, 2018

Page range: 49 - 59

Received: Aug 18, 2017

Accepted: Sep 19, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/fon-2018-0008

Keywords
formula feeding, infant feeding, breastfeeding, feeding decision, experience, Qualitative, interpretative phenomenological analysis, women, education, support, nurse, nursing

© 2018 Shanxi Medical Periodical Press

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Women’s experiences of formula feeding their infants: an interpretative phenomenological study

Article Category: Original article

Published Online: Mar 26, 2018

Page range: 49 - 59

Received: Aug 18, 2017

Accepted: Sep 19, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/fon-2018-0008

Keywordsformula feeding, infant feeding, breastfeeding, feeding decision, experience, Qualitative, interpretative phenomenological analysis, women, education, support, nurse, nursing

© 2018 Shanxi Medical Periodical Press

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Keywords
formula feeding, infant feeding, breastfeeding, feeding decision, experience, Qualitative, interpretative phenomenological analysis, women, education, support, nurse, nursing