Exploring the Experiences and Challenges of Breastfeeding Beyond 2 Years in the United Kingdom: A Qualitative Study.

Abstract

The World Health Organization recommend that babies are breastfed up to 2 years old and beyond. Breastfeeding beyond infancy continues to provide physical and mental health benefits for mothers and supports nutrition, immunity and development for children. However, there is a dearth of research exploring the experiences of women who breastfeed beyond 2 years, particularly in countries such as the United Kingdom, where only a small percentage of mothers breastfeed past 1 year. This qualitative study explored the experiences of 12 women in the United Kingdom who breastfed or were breastfeeding a child over 2 years old. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis, identifying the benefits and challenges of their experiences. Breastfeeding was central to women's parenting style and nurturing of their child, and its impact extended far beyond nutrition. Breastfeeding helped with bonding and soothing and was viewed as central to a gentle parenting philosophy. However, women reported facing barriers such as stigma, especially around breastfeeding an older child in public, disapproval from family and friends, and poor information from healthcare professionals. Despite these challenges, mothers reported a desire to set an example to others and to normalise breastfeeding an older child. When trying to stop breastfeeding, there was a conflict between mothers wanting to be led by their child and a desire to regain their bodily autonomy. These findings reiterate the importance of supporting women to breastfeed for as long as they want to and ensuring that breastfeeding support encompasses infants and children of all ages.