# Perceived Pressures and Mental Health of Breastfeeding Mothers: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

## TL;DR

This study explores how perceived pressures during breastfeeding affect the mental health of mothers, finding that conflicting advice and support can lead to negative outcomes.

## Contribution

The study introduces a qualitative analysis of perceived pressures related to breastfeeding and their direct impact on maternal mental health.

## Key findings

- Mothers received conflicting advice from healthcare professionals about breastfeeding.
- Perceived pressures from support networks and internal beliefs negatively impacted mental health.
- Positive breastfeeding experiences were linked to better mental health outcomes.

## Abstract

When a mother is supported to breastfeed, the benefits for her mental health are significant. However, if pressured or unsupported, the opposite is true. This research examines mothers’ breastfeeding experiences, exploring how perceived pressure can impact perinatal mental health. A sample of 501 respondents to a research questionnaire was explored using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Three main themes identified were perceived pressure to breastfeed, perceived pressure not to breastfeed and mental health impact. The main findings were that mothers received conflicting advice from healthcare professionals, and pressures to feed in a certain way came from their support networks, as well as from their internal beliefs. Perceived pressures negatively impacted maternal mental health, while positive breastfeeding experiences benefitted mental health outcomes.