Durham E-Theses Women's experiences of early and long term breastfeeding in the UK. Britton, Cathryn How to cite: Britton, Cathryn (2000) Women's experiences of early and long term breastfeeding in the UK., Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1228/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk Women's experiences of early and long-term breastfeeding in the UK. Cathryn Britton Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Durham, Department of Anthropology 2000 Abstract A considerableamount of researchhas been undertakenabout breastfeedingin the UK from a scientific or policy orientation. However only a small amount of research has focused on women's experiences of breastfeeding. Within this study the actual experiences of women were investigated and the women placed foremost in the research question. The women in this study used both conceptual and authoritative knowledge to make sense of, and manage their breastfeedingexperiences. Firstly, the experiencesof women who had breastfedin the first four months of motherhood were explored with specific attention to the meanings and significanceof the letdown reflex. This bodily sensationrelated to breastfeeding features in the medical discourse of breastfeeding managementbut women's actual experiences have been neglected. In this study social, biological and emotional entities became integrated into the women's experience of breastfeedingto give meaningto, and make senseof, this embodiedsensation. Secondly, the meanings of breastfeeding for women who had experience of long-term breastfeeding (up to the age of four years) were investigated. Previous breastfeeding research in the UK has concentrated on why women stop breastfeedingin the first few months, not why they might continue. In this study the continuanceof breastfeedingwas associatedwith the belief that it was `natural' and symbolic of being a `good' mother. The dominant opinion in the UK is that long-term breastfeeding is inappropriate so some women in this study would continue their long-term breastfeedingas a clandestineactivity. For both groups, the social context within which their breastfeeding activity took place was influential. Many women found their social network supportive but also a source of conflict. The women developed strategies to deal with these conflicts which were often based on their `intuitive knowing' how best to mother their child. Women's Experiences of Early and Long-term Breastfeeding in the UK Cathryn J. Britton The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published in any form, including Electronic and the Internet, without the author's prior written consent. All information derived from this thesis must be acknowledged appropriately. Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Durham Department of Anthropology 2000 -8 MAR2002 2 Table of Contents Abstract 1 ........................................................................................................................................ Tables 5 ........................................................................................................................................... Siunnlementarv Material 6 ............................................................................................................... Declaration 7 ................................................................................................................................... Statement Convrieht 8 of ................................................................................................................ Acknowledgements 9 ..................................................................................................................... Preface 10 ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Chapter One: Introduction ..................................................................................................... breastfeeding? 14 Why another study of ......................................................................................... Narratives 15 ................................................................................................................................... Theoretical Perspectives 17 ............................................................................................................. Bodv 17 ........................................................................................................................................... Breast 23 ......................................................................................................................................... Babyhood 28 ................................................................................................................................... BreastfeedingPromotion 32 ............................................................................................................ Outline Chapters 43 of the .............................................................................................................. Sample 48 Chapter Two: Methodology and .............................................................................. Data 49 collection ........................................................................................................................... The Sample 51 ................................................................................................................................ Group One Early breastfeeders 51 - ............................................................................................... Recruitment for Group One 53 ........................................................................................................ Group Two Long-term breastfeeders 55 - ...................................................................................... Recruitment For Group Two 57 ...................................................................................................... Building Rapport 58 ........................................................................................................................ Confidentiality 60 ........................................................................................................................... Data Analysis 61 ............................................................................................................................. Chapter Three: Breastfeeding The Early Experiences 63 - ...................................................... Feeling 'Letdown' 65 ................................................... .................... .. .... .................................... Expectations Acquisition Knowledge 66 - of ................................................................................. Expectations Realities 70 versus ..................................................................................................... Describing Sensation 71 the ............................................................................................................ The Significance Letdown 75 of ..................................................................................................... Letdown 'A Mind its Own' 78 - of ................................................................................................. Motherhood 85 Breastfeedingand .................................................................................................. Four: Breastfeeding Older Child 88 Chapter the ....................................................................... Women's Views Why They Continued Breastfeeding 92 on .......................................................... Experiences Breastfeeding 93 Initial of .......................................................................................... As "Natural" 97 Breastfeeding ........................................................................................................ Breastfeeding `Good' Mothering 97 and ......................................................................................... PersonalFulfilment Mothering 98 of .............................................................................................. Food 99 ........................................................................................................................................... Love 100 ......................................................................................................................................... Protection 102 ................................................................................................................................. Encouraging Independence/CharacterForming 105 ......................................................................