"I Had One Job and That Was To Make Milk": Mothers' Experiences Expressing Milk for Their Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bower, Katherine; Burnette, Tara; Lewis, Daniel; Wright, Courtney; Kavanagh, Katie
• Is Part Of: Journal of human lactation. Volume 33:Number 1(2017:Feb.)
• Page Start: 188
• Page End: 194
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: breastfeeding -- breast milk expression -- breast pump -- human milk -- preterm infants -- qualitative methods; Breastfeeding -- Periodicals; Lactation -- Periodicals; 612.664
• DOI: 10.1177/0890334416679382
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0890-3344

Abstract

Background: For very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants, breastfeeding may no longer be an immediate option. Mothers often turn to mechanically expressing their milk with a breast pump to provide their infants human milk. Research aim: This study aimed to describe mothers' experiences expressing milk for their VLBW infants in a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: Qualitative, phenomenological methods were used to better understand the milk expression experiences of 17 mothers of VLBW infants. In-depth interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step protocol, and themes were identified to illustrate the lived experience of the mothers. Results: Five global themes emerged from interviews with mothers. However, this article focuses on one global theme, "I had one job and that was to make milk, " and the supporting subthemes: (1) "I was heartbroken, " (2) "Pumping is a full-time thing, " and (3) "I literally sacrificed nights." Conclusion: This study provides insight into the complex experience that mothers in the southeastern United States undergo when expressing milk for their VLBW infants.