Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40361194›Full record

ArticleInternational breastfeeding journal2025

Fatherhood and breastfeeding: a qualitative exploration of counselling experiences.

Ingvild Lande Hamnøy, Marianne Kjelsvik, Anne Bergljot Baerug, Berit Misund Dahl

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International breastfeeding journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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.

Ingvild Lande HamnøyNorwegian University of Science and Technology, Ålesund, Norway. ingvild.hamnoy@ntnu.no.
Marianne KjelsvikNorwegian University of Science and Technology, Ålesund, Norway.
Anne Bergljot BaerugThe Norwegian Directorate of Health, Oslo, Norway.
Berit Misund DahlNorwegian University of Science and Technology, Ålesund, Norway.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIncluding fathers as breastfeeding facilitators and providing qualified breastfeeding counselling from healthcare professionals are key factors that increase breastfeeding outcomes. It is essential to explore how healthcare professionals can effectively support fathers in navigating their roles and addressing the challenges they encounter to promote breastfeeding. We aimed to explore fathers' experiences of being in a breastfeeding family with a particular focus on their interactions with midwives and public health nurses during breastfeeding counselling. The purpose was to gain deeper insights into the phenomenon of breastfeeding counselling from the father's perspective to develop knowledge that can better help fathers support breastfeeding mothers.

methodsA qualitative content analysis with a phenomenological hermeneutic approach was employed using individual interviews with ten fathers in Norway between January and October 2022. The study adhered to the COREQ Checklist for reporting.

resultsThe meaning of fathers` experiences of being in a breastfeeding family and receiving breastfeeding counselling was formulated into three interrelated themes: being a caregiver and breastfeeding facilitator, meaning to be prepared for the father's role and supporting mother and child; being part of a breastfeeding family which means being included or excluded in breastfeeding counselling, desire to nurture parent-child bonds and develop resilience as a couple. Managing everyday life means making their own decisions, and competent breastfeeding counsellors provide security and trust, while inadequate counselling leaves fathers feeling trapped in a chaotic situation.

conclusionsTo enable fathers to fulfil their roles as caregivers and breastfeeding facilitators, healthcare professionals should actively encourage their participation and involvement in breastfeeding counselling and discussions regarding breastfeeding. Additionally, to help fathers navigate daily life confidently, healthcare professionals must offer qualified breastfeeding counselling, be aware of their needs and provide appropriate support. Empowering fathers to support breastfeeding may contribute to promoting breastfeeding, closer relationships and better health for the family.

Indexed as

Breast FeedingCounselingFathersAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNorwayQualitative ResearchBreastfeeding counsellingBreastfeeding familyBreastfeeding supportFathersHealthcare professionalsIndividual interviewsMidwivesPublic health nursesQualitative content analysisQualitative study

Identifiers

PMID40361194
PMCPMC12076809

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.