<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...

Mother	Age range, years	Language	Education level	Occupation	Parity	Method of delivery	Age at marriage, years	Youngest baby’s age at interview, months	Duration of breastfeeding, weeks	Duration of formula feeding, weeks
Amy	33–37	Cantonese	Secondary	Nurse	1	Caesarean	32	3	1	11
Bella	38+	Cantonese	University	Physiotherapist	2	Vaginal	27	12	1	23
Cindy	33–37	Cantonese	University	Nurse	1	Caesarean	33–37	4	0	16
Dina	33–37	Cantonese	Secondary	Clerk	1	Caesarean	28–32	3	2	10
Elsa	33–37	Cantonese	University	Clerk	1	Vaginal	28	3	4	8
Fiona	33–37	Cantonese/English	University	Financial	1	Caesarean	26	6	6	18
Gloria	33–37	Cantonese	Secondary	consultant Kindergarten teacher	1	Vaginal	27	3	3	9
Helen	38+	Cantonese	University	Housewife	1	Vaginal	35	3	2	10
Isabella	28–32	Cantonese	Secondary	Housewife	1	Vaginal	29	4	2	14
Jade	33–37	Cantonese	Secondary	Housewife	1	Caesarean	28	3	4	8
Katy	23–27	Cantonese	Secondary	Housewife	1	Caesarean	24	3	3	9
Macy	18–22	Cantonese	Secondary	Saleswoman	1	Vaginal	NA	4	6	10
Nina	33–37	Cantonese/Putonghua	Secondary	Housewife	1	Caesarean	28	6	3	21
Ophelia	18–22	Cantonese	Secondary	Housewife	1	Vaginal	20	4	2	14
Pamela	18–22	Cantonese	Secondary	Housewife	1	Vaginal	17	3	4	8
Quinine	28–32	Cantonese	Secondary	Housewife	1	Vaginal	25	6	8	16

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

Article Category: Original article

Data publikacji: 26 mar 2018

Zakres stron: 49 - 59

Otrzymano: 18 sie 2017

Przyjęty: 19 wrz 2017

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

Słowa kluczowe
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.

Demographic details and duration of formula feeding

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

Article Category: Original article

Data publikacji: 26 mar 2018

Zakres stron: 49 - 59

Otrzymano: 18 sie 2017

Przyjęty: 19 wrz 2017

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

Słowa kluczoweformula 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.

Demographic details and duration of formula feeding

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