Encouraging Breastfeeding Without Guilt: A Qualitative Study of Breastfeeding Promotion in the Singapore Healthcare Setting

Abstract

Introduction: In Singapore, the healthcare system strongly encourages mothers to breastfeed and breastfeeding initiation is near-universal. However, sustained breastfeeding rates remain low. Little is currently known about how breastfeeding information disseminated in the healthcare setting influences women’s breastfeeding experiences. This study explored breastfeeding promotion and educational resources from the perspective of Singaporean mothers and healthcare workers. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 14 mothers of infants aged 1–5 months and who had used obstetric, maternity, and/or paediatric services in Singapore, and 20 health workers with experience in general, obstetric, maternal, or paediatric care recruited using purposive sampling methods. Interview transcripts were coded using an inductive method. Results: Breastfeeding communications were viewed as too moralized and too focused on nudging women to breastfeed, with relatively little emphasis on timely, practical information or solutions for mothers unable to latch. Hence mothers tended to rely on alternative resources such as blogs. They lacked in-depth knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding and viewed it as detrimental to maternal mental wellbeing due to the perceived stress and guilt when experiencing difficulties, notably with milk supply and latching, and from the inability to meet breastfeeding expectations. Husbands, older family members, confinement nannies, and employers were considered influential individuals to encourage breastfeeding, but they commonly discouraged breastfeeding due to social and cultural factors which led to supplementation with formula. Conclusion: For better breastfeeding outcomes, future informational sources on breastfeeding should be morally neutral, practical, set realistic expectations for the demands of breastfeeding, and target influential individuals such as family members, confinement nannies and employers.