Women and Birth
Volume 20, Issue 2 , Pages 71-76, June 2007

Passive resistance: Early experiences of midwifery students/graduates and the Baby Friendly Health Initiative 10 steps to successful breastfeeding

  • Edith Reddin

      Affiliations

    • School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, City East Campus, North Tce., Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.
    • ,
  • Jan Pincombe

      Affiliations

    • School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, City East Campus, North Tce., Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
    • ,
  • Philip Darbyshire

      Affiliations

    • Department of Nursing and Midwifery Research and Practice Development, Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia

Received 10 August 2006; received in revised form 26 February 2007; accepted 3 April 2007.

Summary 

Passive resistance

Early experiences of midwifery students/graduates and the Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) 10 steps to successful breastfeeding.

Research question

What factors, in relation to the BFHI 10 steps to successful breastfeeding, influence the development of breastfeeding support practice for beginning practitioner midwives?

Procedures

Newly graduated midwives about to commence a Graduate Midwifery Program (GMP) were recruited from two South Australian universities and one Western Australian hospital to participate in the study.

Methods

This qualitative longitudinal study used critical incident technique for a series of three semi-structured interviews with each participant. The theoretical framework of the project was Bandura's Social Learning Theory with Boyatzis’ Data driven approach used to thematically analyze the data.

Findings

Participants highlighted experiences such as time pressure and the established clinical practices of experienced midwives that undermined their commitment to the BFHI 10 steps. Outdated practices by senior midwives and passive resistance to the BFHI 10 steps were commonplace even in participating hospitals which are BFHI accredited.

Conclusions

The clinical working environment has a major impact on the way newly graduated midwives integrate the BFHI 10 steps into their breastfeeding support practice. Commitment to the BFHI 10 steps should not be taken for granted just because a hospital achieves BFHI accreditation. Many experienced midwives are continuing with outdated practices that confuse breastfeeding mothers and newly graduated midwives alike.

Keywords: Graduates, Midwives, Breastfeeding, Baby Friendly Health Initiative, 10 Steps

 

PII: S1871-5192(07)00028-5

doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2007.04.003

Women and Birth
Volume 20, Issue 2 , Pages 71-76, June 2007

Article Tools