Table 2 Examples of the diverse range of answers to questions about what ‘success’ means to parents in relation to breastmilk feeding in prematurity
Answers relating to the nature of the breastmilk feeding experience | Answers related to the duration of breastmilk feeding |
|---|---|
Being able to express more milk | For longer than actually experienced |
Minimising the effect of expressing on time spent with the baby | Until complementary feeds (“solids”) were introduced |
Providing exclusive maternal milk | Until discharge from hospital |
Any direct breastfeeding (getting the baby to latch to the breast at all) | Until the baby was perceived as less vulnerable to infection (for example after winter or when the baby had reached a particular weight) |
Exclusive direct breastfeeding | Six months from birth |
The mother being more happy or relaxed in relation to lactation | A year from birth |
Feeling well supported | Until the baby was a toddler |
Improving the baby’s weight gain | Until the baby or child decided they wanted to stop breastfeeding |
Feeling listened to and trusted by staff |