ArticleBMJ open2020
'Surely you're not still breastfeeding': a qualitative exploration of women's experiences of breastfeeding beyond infancy in the UK.
Article in BMJ open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 31 citations in OpenAlex.
- Women's Experiences of Breastfeeding Beyond One Year: A Qualitative Systematic Review.Maternal & child nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Peer Support and Community Interventions Targeting Breastfeeding in the UK: Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence to Identify Inequities in Participants' Experiences.Maternal & child nutrition · 2025Pooled it
- Health professionals' competencies regarding breastfeeding beyond 12 months: a systematic review.International breastfeeding journal · 2023Pooled it
- A framework of long-term breastfeeding counseling and support in Finland.International breastfeeding journal · 2026Article
- Perceived Pressures and Mental Health of Breastfeeding Mothers: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Developing an Instrument to Measure Public Health Nurses' Competence Related to Breastfeeding Beyond 12 Months.Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association · 2024Article
- 'It's far from the norm': breastfeeding beyond 1 year in the Republic of Ireland.Health promotion international · 2024Article
- A co-designed evaluation study to identify Breastfeeding Knowledge of General Practitioners' and Practice Nurses'.Health promotion international · 2024Article
- Article: "Too Old" and "Too Cold": Discomfort Towards Photographs of Breastfeeding Beyond Infancy and Public Breastfeeding in Nova Scotia, Canada.Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association · 2022Article
- Public Health Nurses' Competence Related to Long-Term Breastfeeding in the Context of Maternity and Child Health Clinics.Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.)Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesTo explore women's experiences of breastfeeding beyond infancy (>1 year). Understanding these experiences, including the motivators, enablers and barriers faced, may help inform future strategies to support and facilitate mothers to breastfeed for an optimal duration.
designAn exploratory qualitative study using an interpretive approach. Nineteen semistructured interviews were conducted (in person, via phone or Skype), transcribed and thematically analysed using the framework method.
settingParticipants drawn from across the UK through online breastfeeding support groups.
participantsMaximum variation sample of women currently breastfeeding a child older than 1 year, or who had done so in the previous 5 years. Participants were included if over 18, able to speak English at conversational level and resident in the UK.
resultsThe findings offer insights into the challenges faced by women breastfeeding older children, including perceived social and cultural barriers. Three core themes were interpreted: (1) parenting philosophy; (2) breastfeeding beliefs; (3) transition from babyhood to toddlerhood. Women had not intended to breastfeed beyond infancy prior to delivery, but developed a 'child-led' approach to parenting and internalised strong beliefs that breastfeeding is the biological norm. Women perceived a negative shift in approval for continued breastfeeding as their child transitioned from 'baby' to 'toddler'. This compelled woman to conceal breastfeeding and fostered a reluctance to seek advice from healthcare professionals. Mothers reported feeling pressured to breastfeed when their babies were young, but discouraged as children grew. They identified best with the term 'natural-term breastfeeding'.
conclusionsThis study suggests that providing antenatal education regarding biological weaning ages and promotion of guidelines for optimum breastfeeding duration may encourage more women to breastfeed for longer. Promoting the concept of natural-term breastfeeding to mothers, and healthcare professionals, employers and the public is necessary to normalise and encourage acceptance of breastfeeding beyond infancy.
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Registered trials
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