Table 1 Content of the interview guides

Pregnancy

- How do you intend to feed your expected baby: (You walk through the baby’s ages and discuss how they intend to feed the baby and with what)

• After birth?

• During the first three days after delivery?

• During the first month (after the first three days)

• Between 1 and 6 months of age?

- How long after birth do you intend to breastfeed the baby for the first time?

- How long do you intend to feed your expected baby with breast milk only?

- Why did you think you would feed your baby this way?

First week

- For this new baby (the name of the baby), how long after birth was she/he breastfed?

- [If less than one hour] What do you believe are the advantages of breastfeeding the baby within the first hour after birth?

- What factors or circumstances enabled you to breastfeed the baby within the first hour after birth?

- [If more than one hour] What factors or circumstances made it difficult for you to breastfeed the baby within the first hour after birth?

- Was the baby given (by you or anyone else) anything to eat/drink before he/she was breastfed for the first time?

- [If yes] What was given to the baby?

- Why was it given to her/him? [Ask for each food/drink that was given to the baby]

- Who advised you to give this to the baby? [Ask for each food/drink that was given to the baby]

- At the moment, from birth till now, has the baby been given anything to eat or drink other than breastmilk?

- What was given to the baby other than breast milk?

- What was the reason that triggered you to offer your baby (drink or/food item)?

- Who advised you to do that?

4 months

Now let’s talk about how the baby was fed after these few days. Please think back from the first week through the first few months:

- Are you currently breastfeeding the baby? If yes, how often do you breastfeed?

- Do you breastfeed 1) on a fixed schedule, or 2) each time the baby asks to be fed, or 3) depends on the mother’s availability?

If not, at what age of the child did you discontinue breastfeeding? Why did you stop breastfeeding the baby?

- What type of food was given to the baby; if any, what were the reasons that triggered you to offer your baby (drink or food mentioned)?

- How did you learn about that? Did you learn it from someone?

- From the last visit, in the first week postpartum, till now, did you make some changes in the ways you feed your baby? If yes, what did you change?

- Did you have any problem or challenge (internal or external) impeding the ideal breastfeeding practices for your child? For every problem, probe to talk more about the problem.

- What elements do you believe help you to overcome those challenges? Is it something inside you (physical, mental, or spiritual) or something outside yourself (social and physical context)?

6 months

Now let’s talk about how the baby was fed after these few months. From the last visit in the fourth month till now, did you make some changes in the ways you feed your baby? If yes, what did you change?

Probing questions:

- Are you currently breastfeeding the baby? If yes, how often do you breastfeed?

- Do you breastfeed 1) on a fixed schedule, or 2) each time the baby asks to be fed, or 3) depends on the mother’s availability?

If not, at what age of the child did you discontinue breastfeeding? Why did you stop breastfeeding the baby?

- Have you given any food/drink to your baby in addition to breastmilk?

- If yes, what was the first food given to your baby?

- How old was your baby when you gave him/her this particular food or drink? If food was introduced before six months, ask why.

- How did you learn about that? Did you learn it from someone?

- Did you have any problem or challenge (internal or external) impeding the ideal breastfeeding practices? For every problem, probe to talk more about the problem.

- What elements do you believe help you to overcome those challenges? Is it something inside you (physical, mental, or spiritual) or something outside yourself (social and physical context)?