Breastfeeding When Mothers Return to Work from Home

PURPOSE: Working from home (WFH) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study is to explore mothers' breastfeeding experiences of mutual responsiveness and perceived adequate milk supply in the breastfeeding relationship for the first 6 months after birth. STUDY DESIGN METHODS: Descriptive longitudinal qualitative design was used as part of a large study. Data were analyzed from a purposive sample of 25 breastfeeding mothers who returned to WFH within the first 6 months and directly breastfed their infant at least once a day for the first 6 months between June 2022 and August 2023. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze mothers' written responses to 4 open ended questions using an online survey, including breastfeeding experience at home, mothers' thoughts and feelings during direct breastfeeding, strategies used to resolve their breastfeeding problems, and breastfeeding support at work. Trustworthiness was attained by coding to consensus, peer debriefing, and maintaining audit trail. RESULTS: Changes in Breastfeeding Relationships When Mothers Return to Work from Home was the core construct and organized into three domains: (1) changes in breastfeeding when returning to work from home, (2) social support for breastfeeding continuation, and (3) maternal distress following return to work from home. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: For mothers juggling paid work while integrating direct breastfeeding with breast milk expression at home, it is recommended that nurses promote unrestricted direct breastfeeding when possible, including nighttime feeding, to sustain the breastfeeding relationship. This strategy will remain relevant in a postpandemic context.