References

Alexander J, Anderson T, Grant M, Sanghera J, Jackson D. An evaluation of a support group for breast-feeding women in Salisbury, UK. Midwifery. 2003; 19:(3)215-20 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-6138(03)00033-0

Bandura A. Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychol Rev. 1977; 84:(2)191-215 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.84.2.191

Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006; 3:(2)77-101 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Brown AE, Raynor P, Benton D, Lee MD. Indices of Multiple Deprivation predict breastfeeding duration in England and Wales. Eur J Public Health. 2010; 20:(2)231-5 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckp114

Brown A. Breast is best, but not in my back-yard. Trends Mol Med. 2015; 21:(2)57-9 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmed.2014.11.006

Dennis CL. Peer support within a health care context: a concept analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2003; 40:(3)321-32 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7489(02)00092-5

Douglas H. Solihull Approach resource pack: The first five years, 5th edn. Cambridge: Jill Rogers Associates; 2012

Ekström A, Widström AM, Nissen E. Does continuity of care by well-trained breastfeeding counselors improve a mothers perception of support?. Birth. 2006; 33:(2)123-30 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0730-7659.2006.00089.x

Finfgeld-Connett D. Clarification of social support. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2005; 37:(1)4-9 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.2005.00004.x

Grant A, McEwan K, Tedstone S Availability of breastfeeding peer support in the United Kingdom: A cross-sectional study. Matern Child Nutr. 2017; https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12476

Hoddinott P, Pill R. Qualitative study of decisions about infant feeding among women in east end of London. BMJ. 1999; 318:(7175)30-4 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.318.7175.30

Hoddinott P, Lee AJ, Pill R. Effectiveness of a breastfeeding peer coaching intervention in rural Scotland. Birth. 2006a; 33:(1)27-36 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0730-7659.2006.00071.x

Hoddinott P, Chalmers M, Pill R. One-to-one or group-based peer support for breastfeeding? Women's perceptions of a breastfeeding peer coaching intervention. Birth. 2006b; 33:(2)139-46 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0730-7659.2006.00092.x

Hoddinott P, Britten J, Prescott GJ Effectiveness of policy to provide breastfeeding groups (BIG) for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in primary care: cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2009; 338 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.a3026

Ingram J, Rosser J, Jackson D. Breastfeeding peer supporters and a community support group: evaluating their effectiveness. Matern Child Nutr. 2005; 1:(2)111-18 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8709.2005.00005.x

Infant Feeding Survey 2010. 2012. https://sp.ukdataservice.ac.uk/doc/7281/mrdoc/pdf/7281_ifs-uk-2010_report.pdf (accessed 3 November 2017)

Mongeon M, Allard R. Controlled study of a regular telephone support program given by volunteers on the establishment of breastfeeding. Can J Public Health. 1995; 86:(2)124-7

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Maternal and child nutrition. 2008. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph11/chapter/1-key-priorities#breastfeeding (accessed 15 August 2017)

Onwuegbuzie A, Leech N. Sampling Designs in Qualitative Research: Making the Sampling Process More Public. Qual Rep. 2007; 12:(2)238-54

Perry M, Furukawa M. Modeling methods. In: Kanfer F, Goldstein A (eds). New York: Pergamon Press; 1986

Public Health England. Health matters: giving every child the best start in life. 2016. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-giving-every-child-the-best-start-in-life/health-matters-giving-every-child-the-best-start-in-life (accessed 15 August 2017)

Renfrew MJ, McCormick FM, Wade A Support for healthy breastfeeding mothers with healthy term babies. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012; (5) https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001141.pub4

Schmied V, Beake S, Sheehan A, McCourt C, Dykes F. Womens perceptions and experiences of breastfeeding support: a metasynthesis. Birth. 2011; 38:(1)49-60 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-536X.2010.00446.x

Solihull Observatory. Solihull People and Place. 2016. http://www.solihull.gov.uk/portals/0/keystats/solihullpeopleandplace.pdf

Stuebe AM, Bonuck K. What predicts intent to breastfeed exclusively? Breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs in a diverse urban population. Breastfeed Med. 2011; 6:(6)413-20 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2010.0088

Thelwell E, Rheeston M, Douglas H. Exploring breastfeeding peer supporters' experiences of using the Solihull Approach model. British Journal of Midwifery. 2017; 25:(10)639-46 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2017.25.10.639

Thomson G, Crossland N, Dykes F. Giving me hope: womens reflections on a breastfeeding peer support service. Matern Child Nutr. 2012; 8:(3)340-53 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8709.2011.00358.x

Timms M. What are Osmaston and Allenton Sure Start doing towards community based breastfeeding support. A midwife's story. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest. 2002; 12:(2)278-9

UNICEF UK. The UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative. Baby Friendly Initiative. 2017. https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/ (accessed 19 August 2017)

Victora CG, Bahl R, Barros AJD Lancet Breastfeeding Series Group. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet. 2016; 387:(10017)475-90 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01024-7

Walker LO, Avant KC. Strategies for Theory Construction in Nursing, 3rd edn. Norwalk, CT: Appleton & Lange; 1995

World Health Organization. Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. 2015. http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/global_strategy/en/

Using the Solihull Approach in breastfeeding support groups: Maternal perceptions

02 December 2017
Research
02 December 2017
Volume 25 · Issue 12

Abstract

The October issue of BJM explored using the Solihull Approach in breastfeeding support groups from the perspective of breastfeeding peer supporters. This article examines the mothers' experiences

Background

UK breastfeeding rates are among the lowest in the world, so it is necessary to understand what makes breastfeeding support successful. Anecdotal reports of a West Midlands breastfeeding support group noted the benefits of using a psychosocial model, the Solihull Approach, in their staff training.

Aims

To formally explore maternal perceptions of this peer support breastfeeding service.

Methods

Subgroup sampling resulted in nine semi-structured interviews, which were then analysed with thematic analysis.

Findings

The Solihull Approach helped to create safe spaces, both literally (between supporters and mothers) and figuratively (atmosphere of trust and acceptance in the venues). It also ensured tailored informational and emotional support, which sustained the mothers' attendance to the group.

Conclusions

Breastfeeding support groups can gain in consistency from being underpinned by a model: Solihull Approach would be a promising candidate, as its influence can be helpful to the emotional wellbeing and breastfeeding outcomes of all mothers, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

Breastfeeding is a public health priority in the UK (Public Health England, 2016). While the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends using peer support to increase both initiation and duration of breastfeeding (WHO, 2015), a survey of infant feeding co-ordinators in the UK concluded that more evidence was needed to inform the provision of breastfeeding peer-support services (Grant et al, 2017). An evidence-based model called the ‘Solihull Approach’ (Douglas, 2012) has been used in one Local Authority as a basis for the training of breastfeeding supporters. Anecdotal reports suggested that this was helpful and contributed to earning the service a Baby Friendly Award, a best practice accreditation scheme of the Baby Friendly Initiative (UNICEF UK, 2017). A formal qualitative study has been conducted on the experiences of the Solihull Approach-based breastfeeding support group (Thelwell et al, 2017) from the point of view of the breastfeeding peer supporters. This article reports the mothers' perspectives.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting British Journal of Midwifery and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for midwives. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Limited access to our clinical or professional articles

  • New content and clinical newsletter updates each month

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address

Breastfeeding
Social support
Self-help groups
Qualitative
Solihull Approach
Women's experiences