The private journey: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of exclusive breastfeeding (original) (raw)

Exclusive breast milk provides complete nutrition for a baby's first six months of life. In Australia, breastfeeding initiation rates are high, however duration rates are low. Although numerous studies have explored the reasons behind low levels of breastfeeding, few have examined the experiences of women who maintain exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended six-month duration. This paper will present an in-depth, idiographic interpretation of first-time mothers' experience of exclusive breastfeeding for six months in Australia. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore how five new mothers understood their six-month exclusive breastfeeding journey. Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted retrospectively, transcribed in full, and analysed using the flexible seven-step approach of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three higher-order themes were identified: (1) exclusive breastfeeding is a personal choice, (2) exclusive breastfeedi...