Abstract

Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) has economic and many health benefits, including reduced adult obesity and incidence of childhood and non-communicable diseases. However, negative experiences with breastfeeding the first baby significantly impact the success of EBF, particularly with first-time mothers who report having had challenges failing to practice EBF with subsequent babies. Purpose: This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of first-time mothers with EBF in Kafue, Zambia. Material and methods: A qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study, with a nonprobability, purposive sample size of 25 first-time mothers within the first six months postpartum was conducted. Face-to-face interviews with a core question followed with prompts to ascertain respondents’ interpretations to the core question were carried out. Transcript content analysis of the data was then done with text information assigned descriptive codes and categorised according to emerging themes using thematic analysis as described by Maguire & Delahunt.1 Results: Three major themes emerged; “Challenges initiating and continuing breastfeeding”, “Psychological aspects of EBF practice in relation to coping” and “Inadequate support networks/mechanisms”. First-time mothers experienced diverse challenges with EBF and information received from healthcare providers did not prepare or help them adequately. Practical support was received from nurses and midwives, however only in the first six weeks postpartum. In some instances, support was either not given or it was not supportive of EBF. Conclusion: Given their inexperience, first-time mothers experience EBF challenges that are difficult to deal with leading to very negative effects on their perceptions of EBF thus negatively affecting EBF practices. Without adequate and appropriate practical support in the perinatal period, they are most likely not to EBF successfully. Teaching on danger signs of breastfeeding complications and incorporating breastfeeding clinics in the Maternal and Child Health Departments could be utilised as strategies to help them sustain successful EBF practices. 

Keywords

exclusive breastfeeding, challenges, first time mothers, experiences, coping