The success of the chest/breastfeeding couple is largely dependent on the amount of support they receive while making the decision to breastfeed, during pregnancy, and after birth as parents. Research has shown for years that people who receive good social support will have higher confidence in breastfeeding and maintain a more positive outlook on the nursing experience (Wilson, 2020). Several professional organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), have stated that breast/breastfeeding support interventions will increase the duration and exclusivity of breast/breastfeeding ( Bridges, Howell, & Schmied, 2018). For generations, families have provided an internal support network for new families and have been a resource for breast/breastfeeding information passed down through the years.
Unfortunately, times have changed and access to family support has decreased. Reasons for lack of extended family support may be due to new parents moving to a new location for work opportunities, making one-to-one generational support difficult. New parents are often enthusiastic about attending pregnancy, birth, and hopefully breast/breastfeeding classes and develop a social bond with others and celebrate shared experiences. But what happens when the new baby arrives and the couple learns to live as a new family? It’s not uncommon for them to feel isolated and exhausted, while trying to navigate all of the new experiences as new parents. This is often exciting, but can also feel confusing and scary, especially if it’s their first baby.
Many new parents need breast/breastfeeding support and will participate in community support groups such as Le Leche League, postpartum support groups, or may opt for a more personal session with a Lactation Consultant. Due to the growing popularity of social media platforms and the increased isolation that some families can experience, many new moms are turning to online breast/breastfeeding support groups. These online support groups will often replace their perceived lack of professional, family, and partner support and can be accessed at all hours of the day and night. Reputable online support groups can provide a new mother with reassurance, empathetic support and a safe place to ask questions without judgment (Regan and Brown, 2019). It is very important that health care professionals direct new families to reputable online support groups because there are many sites that can make information more confusing and inaccurate, thus jeopardizing the safety of both breast/breastfeeding parents and the baby.
Since many new mothers return to work outside the home not long after giving birth, these online support networks are often the place women go for advice and support about breasts/breastfeeding and work. They will ask for advice on breast pumps, expressing and storing breast milk and what to expect during growth (Bridges, Howell, and Schmied, 2018). Any search on social media will quickly lead a new parent to a support group that provides information geared toward any needs and interests. The ability to contact professionals and other new parents at any time of the day or night in the comfort of their own home has become a popular form of support. This form of communication will hopefully improve confidence and assurance for breast/breastfeeding success.
Online social media support groups have become even more important as families navigate parenting during this Covid-19 pandemic. Many community support groups and hospitals no longer provide in-person support and have engaged parents in the virtual world of providing health care. Being able to turn to social media in these scary times and at increased risk for exposure to Covid is so important and should be encouraged when working with our families. While there are many benefits to participating in online social media groups, there are also negatives that can affect breast/breastfeeding success. Parents should be vigilant in reviewing information for accuracy and seek their providers’ input if they have questions.
Fortunately, new families have access to all kinds of support and information in person and online. Social media continues to grow as one of the most popular forms of support, establishing itself as an important form of a safe, effective communication tool for networking and education. Social media has helped improve breast/breastfeeding outcomes for many women by giving them a safe place to ask questions and feel supported when they are struggling with their breast/breastfeeding experience.
Resources
- Bridges, N., Howell, G. & Schmied, V. (2018). Exploring breast/breastfeeding support on social media. International Chest/breastfeeding Journal, 13:22. doi: 10.1186/s13006-018-0166-9
- Regan, S. & Brown, A. (2019). Experiences with online breast/breastfeeding support: Support and reassurance against judgment and misinformation. Maternal Child Nutrition. Doi:10.1111/mcn.12874
- Wilson, JC (2020). Using social media for breast/breastfeeding support, Clinical Evaluation and Improvement. AWHONN. Doi: 10.1016/j.nwh.2020.07.003
About the Author
Dawn Teeple has been a Registered Nurse for over 35 years, specializing in Maternal-Child Health. She has worked in all areas supporting mothers and babies including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Labor and Delivery, Mother/Baby, Lactation Consultant, Childbirth Educator, Elementary School nurse, as well as a Nursing Professor teaching new nurse about his passion for collaboration. mothers and their newborns. She is a Certified Lactation Educator who works full-time as lactation support at her local hospital. She will complete her Doctorate in Nursing Practice, completing her graduate project on the benefits of skin-to-skin contact and increasing rates of exclusive breastfeeding. Dawn has been married for 28 years, has 3 beautiful children (25, 22 and 8) and breastfeeds all her babies! He loves to travel and spend time with his family, camping and the beach.
