Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33491303›Full record

SynthesisMaternal & child nutrition2021

Guilt, shame, and postpartum infant feeding outcomes: A systematic review.

Leanne Jackson, Leonardo De Pascalis, Jo Harrold, Victoria Fallon

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Maternal & child nutrition, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 62 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
62citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
10.4field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

62 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 100 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  4. Integrative Review of Mental Health and Feeding Styles in Parents of Bottle-Fed Infants.Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN · 2023
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  16. Promoting bonding and secure attachment in the NICU to improve parent-infant mental health: recommendations for clinical practice.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2026
    Review
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2 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Leanne JacksonDepartment of Psychological Sciences, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-4491-1802
Leonardo De PascalisDepartment of Psychological Sciences, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Jo HarroldDepartment of Psychological Sciences, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Victoria FallonDepartment of Psychological Sciences, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-7350-2568
University of Liverpool · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Negative maternal affect (e.g., depression and anxiety) has been associated with shorter breastfeeding duration and poorer breastfeeding intention, initiation, and exclusivity. Other affective states, including guilt and shame, have been linked with formula feeding practice, though existing literature has yet to be synthesised. A narrative synthesis of quantitative data and a framework synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data were conducted to explore guilt and/or shame in relation to infant feeding outcomes. Searches were conducted on the DISCOVER database between December 2017 and March 2018. The search strategy was rerun in February 2020, together yielding 467 studies. The study selection process identified 20 articles, published between 1997 and 2017. Quantitative results demonstrated formula feeders experienced guilt more commonly than breastfeeding mothers. Formula feeders experienced external guilt most commonly associated with healthcare professionals, whereas breastfeeding mothers experienced guilt most commonly associated with peers and family. No quantitative literature examined shame in relation to infant feeding outcomes, warranting future research. The framework synthesis generated four distinct themes which explored guilt and/or shame in relation to infant feeding outcomes: 'underprepared and ineffectively supported', 'morality and perceived judgement' (breastfeeding), 'frustration with infant feeding care' and 'failures, fears and forbidden practice' (formula feeding). Both guilt and shame were associated with self-perception as a bad mother and poorer maternal mental health. Guilt and shame experiences were qualitatively different in terms of sources and outcomes, dependent on infant feeding method. Suggestions for tailored care to minimise guilt and shame, while supporting breastfeeding, are provided.

Indexed as

Breast FeedingPostpartum PeriodFemaleGuiltHumansInfantMothersShamebreastfeedinginfant feedinginfant formulamaternal mental healthpostpartumsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID33491303
PMCPMC8189225
OpenAlexW3123133274

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.