Infant feeding for women with an eating disorder: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
Abstract Mothers with eating disorders can face additional challenges with infant feeding, and there is evidence they are likely to cease breastfeeding earlier than intended. However, there is little research exploring this. The present study used interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13710 |
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| author | Dawn Leeming Samantha Barnsley‐Bridger Rumaanah Shabir Sophie Hinsliff Joyce Marshall |
| author_facet | Dawn Leeming Samantha Barnsley‐Bridger Rumaanah Shabir Sophie Hinsliff Joyce Marshall |
| author_sort | Dawn Leeming |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Mothers with eating disorders can face additional challenges with infant feeding, and there is evidence they are likely to cease breastfeeding earlier than intended. However, there is little research exploring this. The present study used interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore the lived experience of infant feeding for mothers suffering from or recovering from an eating disorder. Semistructured interviews were conducted with six women—five who had breastfed and one who formula‐fed. The women experienced two incompatible worlds—motherhood and an eating disorder. Tensions were sometimes resolved by reducing eating disordered behaviour alongside immersion in motherhood. Two participants did not find infant feeding particularly important for their journey into motherhood. Four recounted a positive shift in their relationship to their body through breastfeeding and felt their embodied experience of mothering provided a route out of eating disordered behaviour. However, doubts about their mothering and infant feeding capabilities could be amplified by feeling mistrusted by others and by the relative silence around eating disorders within maternity care services. Respectful dialogue with health care professionals was particularly valued where this occurred. Although long‐term outcomes for the participants are unknown, the study suggests women with a history of eating disorders can form successful breastfeeding relationships and may be motivated to engage in collaborative risk assessment. However, they need support in managing emotional challenges. Training around eating disorders for maternity care professionals is likely to be useful for enhancing confidence in engaging mothers proactively to share concerns about eating, weight and body shape. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d248754fa6a2451c97a3aa2d7d29fed8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1740-8695 1740-8709 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-d248754fa6a2451c97a3aa2d7d29fed82024-12-17T09:57:23ZengWileyMaternal and Child Nutrition1740-86951740-87092025-01-01211n/an/a10.1111/mcn.13710Infant feeding for women with an eating disorder: An interpretative phenomenological analysisDawn Leeming0Samantha Barnsley‐Bridger1Rumaanah Shabir2Sophie Hinsliff3Joyce Marshall4School of Human and Health Sciences University of Huddersfield Huddersfield UKFaculty of Arts and Social Sciences The Open University Milton Keynes UKSchool of Human and Health Sciences University of Huddersfield Huddersfield UKSchool of Human and Health Sciences University of Huddersfield Huddersfield UKSchool of Human and Health Sciences University of Huddersfield Huddersfield UKAbstract Mothers with eating disorders can face additional challenges with infant feeding, and there is evidence they are likely to cease breastfeeding earlier than intended. However, there is little research exploring this. The present study used interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore the lived experience of infant feeding for mothers suffering from or recovering from an eating disorder. Semistructured interviews were conducted with six women—five who had breastfed and one who formula‐fed. The women experienced two incompatible worlds—motherhood and an eating disorder. Tensions were sometimes resolved by reducing eating disordered behaviour alongside immersion in motherhood. Two participants did not find infant feeding particularly important for their journey into motherhood. Four recounted a positive shift in their relationship to their body through breastfeeding and felt their embodied experience of mothering provided a route out of eating disordered behaviour. However, doubts about their mothering and infant feeding capabilities could be amplified by feeling mistrusted by others and by the relative silence around eating disorders within maternity care services. Respectful dialogue with health care professionals was particularly valued where this occurred. Although long‐term outcomes for the participants are unknown, the study suggests women with a history of eating disorders can form successful breastfeeding relationships and may be motivated to engage in collaborative risk assessment. However, they need support in managing emotional challenges. Training around eating disorders for maternity care professionals is likely to be useful for enhancing confidence in engaging mothers proactively to share concerns about eating, weight and body shape.https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13710anorexiabreastfeedingbulimiaeating disorderinfant feedinginterpretative phenomenological analysis |
| spellingShingle | Dawn Leeming Samantha Barnsley‐Bridger Rumaanah Shabir Sophie Hinsliff Joyce Marshall Infant feeding for women with an eating disorder: An interpretative phenomenological analysis Maternal and Child Nutrition anorexia breastfeeding bulimia eating disorder infant feeding interpretative phenomenological analysis |
| title | Infant feeding for women with an eating disorder: An interpretative phenomenological analysis |
| title_full | Infant feeding for women with an eating disorder: An interpretative phenomenological analysis |
| title_fullStr | Infant feeding for women with an eating disorder: An interpretative phenomenological analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Infant feeding for women with an eating disorder: An interpretative phenomenological analysis |
| title_short | Infant feeding for women with an eating disorder: An interpretative phenomenological analysis |
| title_sort | infant feeding for women with an eating disorder an interpretative phenomenological analysis |
| topic | anorexia breastfeeding bulimia eating disorder infant feeding interpretative phenomenological analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13710 |
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