Arts and Social Sciences Journal

Role of Baby Caretakers to Sustain Breastfeeding among Working Mothers

Abstract

Asis SHH, Al-Sadat N and Abdul Majid H

Study Objective: The aim of the study was to identify in depth the role of baby caretakers to sustain breastfeeding among working mothers who express breast milk. Methodology: A qualitative study using grounded theory was conducted from 15 April 2011 to 31 July 2011, among a sampling pool of working women recruited in an earlier study done in the district of Kuala Langat in 2010. Mothers who met the inclusion criteria of being working mothers, expressed breast milk at work, and who exclusively or predominantly breastfeed up to four month were recruited. A theoretical sampling method was applied and the data collection technique was in depth interview. The interview was audio taped and transcribed verbatim. The transcribed data were analyzed via thematic analysis using Nvivo 9. Results: A total of 15 mothers were interviewed and two major themes of facilitating factors related to baby caretaker were identified, which were i) Preparation for the mother's absence including the mother’s learning to express breast milk, training the baby to accept expressed breast milk and training the baby's carer the right way to give expressed breast milk, ii) support provided by the baby caretaker such as feeding the baby with expressed breast milk. Conclusion: Supportive employers and working environment, as well as baby caretaker assistance play the important role in sustaining breastfeeding among working mothers.