Parental distress around supplementing breastfed babies using nasogastric tubes on the post-natal ward: A theme from an ethnographic study

Authors: Taylor, A.M., Cloherty, M., Alexander, J., Holloway, I., Galvin, K. and Inch, S.

Journal: Maternal and Child Nutrition

Volume: 5

Issue: 2

Pages: 117-124

eISSN: 1740-8709

ISSN: 1740-8695

DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2008.00165.x

Abstract:

There is abundant evidence of the benefits of breastfeeding. In the UK, supplementation in hospital has consistently been shown to be associated with shortened duration of breastfeeding. This paper reports on a subset of the data from an ethnographic study that explored the expectations, beliefs and experiences of mothers and health professionals concerning supplementation, using a variety of methods, of breastfed babies in an English maternity unit in 2002. This paper aims to describe the expectations, beliefs and experiences of mothers and health professionals concerning supplementation by nasogastric (NG) tube on the post-natal ward. Participant observation was carried out on day and night shifts and at weekends over 9 months. Mothers, midwives, neonatal nurses, health care assistants and senior paediatricians were interviewed. Categories and themes were generated. The researchers' constructs of 'the essential method', when the tube was the method needed for medical reasons, and 'the chosen method', when other methods of oral feeding should have been possible, emerged. The latter included time pressures and the avoidance of any form of oral activity that might perhaps make return to the breast more difficult. The data concerning the use of NG tubes for supplementation yielded the specific theme of parental distress. In the absence of evidence that supplementation by NG tube on the post-natal ward is associated with greater breastfeeding success than other methods, the use of the tube to avoid any form of 'oral confusion' should be discontinued. Its use primarily to save time should not be considered acceptable. © 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Source: Scopus

Parental distress around supplementing breastfed babies using nasogastric tubes on the post-natal ward: a theme from an ethnographic study.

Authors: Taylor, A.M., Cloherty, M., Alexander, J., Holloway, I., Galvin, K. and Inch, S.

Journal: Matern Child Nutr

Volume: 5

Issue: 2

Pages: 117-124

eISSN: 1740-8709

DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2008.00165.x

Abstract:

There is abundant evidence of the benefits of breastfeeding. In the UK, supplementation in hospital has consistently been shown to be associated with shortened duration of breastfeeding. This paper reports on a subset of the data from an ethnographic study that explored the expectations, beliefs and experiences of mothers and health professionals concerning supplementation, using a variety of methods, of breastfed babies in an English maternity unit in 2002. This paper aims to describe the expectations, beliefs and experiences of mothers and health professionals concerning supplementation by nasogastric (NG) tube on the post-natal ward. Participant observation was carried out on day and night shifts and at weekends over 9 months. Mothers, midwives, neonatal nurses, health care assistants and senior paediatricians were interviewed. Categories and themes were generated. The researchers' constructs of 'the essential method', when the tube was the method needed for medical reasons, and 'the chosen method', when other methods of oral feeding should have been possible, emerged. The latter included time pressures and the avoidance of any form of oral activity that might perhaps make return to the breast more difficult. The data concerning the use of NG tubes for supplementation yielded the specific theme of parental distress. In the absence of evidence that supplementation by NG tube on the post-natal ward is associated with greater breastfeeding success than other methods, the use of the tube to avoid any form of 'oral confusion' should be discontinued. Its use primarily to save time should not be considered acceptable.

Source: PubMed

Parental distress around supplementing breastfed babies using nasogastric tubes on the post-natal ward: a theme from an ethnographic study

Authors: Taylor, A.M., Cloherty, M., Alexander, J., Holloway, I., Galvin, K. and Inch, S.

Journal: MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION

Volume: 5

Issue: 2

Pages: 117-124

eISSN: 1740-8709

ISSN: 1740-8695

DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2008.00165.x

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Parental distress around supplementing breastfed babies using nasogastric tubes on the postnatal ward: a theme from an ethnographic study.

Authors: Taylor, A.M., Cloherty, M., Alexander, J., Holloway, I., Galvin, K.T. and Inch, S.

Journal: Maternal and Child Nutrition

Volume: 5

Pages: 117-124

ISSN: 1740-8695

DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2008.00165.x

Abstract:

There is abundant evidence of the benefits of breastfeeding. In the UK, supplementation in hospital has consistently been shown to be associated with shortened duration of breastfeeding. This paper reports on one theme that emerged from an ethnographic study that explored the expectations, beliefs and experiences of mothers and health professionals concerning supplementation of breastfed babies in an English maternity unit in 2002. It relates specifically to a subset of the data, ten mothers whose babies received at least one supplementary feed by nasogastric (NG) tube on the postnatal ward. Participant observation was carried out on the postnatal ward on day and night shifts and at weekends over nine months. Mothers, midwives, neonatal nurses, health care assistants and senior paediatricians were interviewed. Categories and themes were generated. The researchers’ constructs of ‘the essential method’, when the tube was the method needed for medical reasons, and ‘the chosen method’ when other methods of oral feeding should have been possible, emerged. The latter included time pressures and the avoidance of any form of oral activity that might perhaps make return to the breast more difficult. The data concerning the use of NG tubes for supplementation yielded the specific theme of parental distress. In the absence of evidence that supplementation by NG tube on the postnatal ward is associated with greater breastfeeding success than other methods, its use to avoid any form of ‘oral confusion’ should be discontinued. Its use primarily to save time should not be considered acceptable.

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122249903/issue

Source: Manual

Preferred by: Immy Holloway

Parental distress around supplementing breastfed babies using nasogastric tubes on the post-natal ward: a theme from an ethnographic study.

Authors: Taylor, A.M., Cloherty, M., Alexander, J., Holloway, I., Galvin, K. and Inch, S.

Journal: Maternal & child nutrition

Volume: 5

Issue: 2

Pages: 117-124

eISSN: 1740-8709

ISSN: 1740-8695

DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2008.00165.x

Abstract:

There is abundant evidence of the benefits of breastfeeding. In the UK, supplementation in hospital has consistently been shown to be associated with shortened duration of breastfeeding. This paper reports on a subset of the data from an ethnographic study that explored the expectations, beliefs and experiences of mothers and health professionals concerning supplementation, using a variety of methods, of breastfed babies in an English maternity unit in 2002. This paper aims to describe the expectations, beliefs and experiences of mothers and health professionals concerning supplementation by nasogastric (NG) tube on the post-natal ward. Participant observation was carried out on day and night shifts and at weekends over 9 months. Mothers, midwives, neonatal nurses, health care assistants and senior paediatricians were interviewed. Categories and themes were generated. The researchers' constructs of 'the essential method', when the tube was the method needed for medical reasons, and 'the chosen method', when other methods of oral feeding should have been possible, emerged. The latter included time pressures and the avoidance of any form of oral activity that might perhaps make return to the breast more difficult. The data concerning the use of NG tubes for supplementation yielded the specific theme of parental distress. In the absence of evidence that supplementation by NG tube on the post-natal ward is associated with greater breastfeeding success than other methods, the use of the tube to avoid any form of 'oral confusion' should be discontinued. Its use primarily to save time should not be considered acceptable.

Source: Europe PubMed Central