Staffordshire University logo
STORE - Staffordshire Online Repository

Postpartum Body Image and Baby Feeding Choices: Dealing with the Pressure to Be Slender

Fern, Victoria, SMITH, Emily and GROGAN, Sarah (2014) Postpartum Body Image and Baby Feeding Choices: Dealing with the Pressure to Be Slender. British Journal of Midwifery, 22 (11). pp. 788-794. ISSN 0969-4900

[img] Text
Fern et al 14 (2).pdf - AUTHOR'S ACCEPTED Version (default)
Restricted to Repository staff only
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

Download (171kB) | Request a copy
[img] Text
Fern et al. (2014) Womens experiences of body image and baby feeding choices. Dealing with the pressure to be slender - Accepted version.docx - AUTHOR'S ACCEPTED Version (default)
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

Download (38kB)

Abstract or description

This qualitative study was designed to assess postpartum women's body image in relation to feeding choices. Forty women aged 20–42 years, up to 3 years postpartum were interviewed through email. Participants were allocated to three groups; currently breastfeeding, former breastfeeding, or bottle-feeding. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, which revealed three key themes: attitude transition, celebrity comparisons, and emotional reactions to celebrity mothers. Analysis suggested that women with experience of breastfeeding viewed their body more functionally, which created feelings of appreciation and acceptance towards their bodies. The findings suggest that although breastfeeding does not necessarily protect women from body concerns and pressure for thinness, it allows women to see their body as an ‘instrument’ rather than an aesthetic ‘object’. Further research is required to confirm or challenge the current findings

Item Type: Article
Faculty: School of Life Sciences and Education > Sport and Exercise
Depositing User: Emily BUCKLEY
Date Deposited: 24 Nov 2015 09:11
Last Modified: 24 Feb 2023 13:42
URI: https://eprints.staffs.ac.uk/id/eprint/2192

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

DisabledGo Staffordshire University is a recognised   Investor in People. Sustain Staffs
Legal | Freedom of Information | Site Map | Job Vacancies
Staffordshire University, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2DE t: +44 (0)1782 294000