An Exploration of Trauma-and-Violence Informed Care for Supporting Breastfeeding Practices Among Mothers who are At-Risk: The Experiences of Breastfeeding Social Support
Abstract
Mothers who are at-risk (lack breastfeeding social support, young, of low socioeconomic status, and experienced intimate partner violence) are less likely to maintain breastfeeding practices, compared to mothers who are not at-risk. This study explored at-risk mother’s experiences of participating in a trauma-and-violence informed breastfeeding intervention on perceived formal and informal breastfeeding social support, and breastfeeding practices. This cross-sectional study of nine in-depth interviews used interpretive description at 12-weeks postpartum with mothers who are at-risk. Results found formal support including emphasis on safety and trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and connection, and skill building to support resilience enabled mothers to continue their breastfeeding practices. Formal and informal (i.e., partners, friends, and extended family) breastfeeding social supports provided mothers with tangible, verbal, informational, and/or emotional support which they found beneficial in maintaining their breastfeeding goals. This trauma-and-violence informed care breastfeeding intervention shows promise in alleviating an array of breastfeeding challenges for mothers who are at-risk.