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Research required into fathers’ roles in breastfeeding

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Dear Editor,


I would like to comment on a recent article by Lloyd Mudiwa on the interesting study conducted by Kenosi et al (‘Fathers are under-used breastfeeding advocates’, IMT, December 16, 2011, http://bit.ly/u9UU6r).


It is clear that a great deal more research needs to be done around antenatal education to assess parents’ needs and also the efficacy of teaching approaches around infant feeding. While this small study finds that fathers have a part to play in infant-feeding decisions, it is not known how much more impact they would have if they were to receive targeted education.

There is currently no common curriculum for breastfeeding education in Irish maternity hospitals and, since CUMH is not a baby-friendly hospital, it is not clear what kind of routine antenatal information practices are available for parents-to-be.  Another factor is that men do not generally seem to appear to be aware that they have a once-off entitlement to time off work to attend two antenatal classes (Maternity Protection Amendment Act 2004).

Is it time to undertake a pilot study to see if targeted education for fathers would affect breastfeeding motivation and confidence, as well as initiation and duration rates, in keeping with the objectives of the national Breastfeeding Strategic Action Plan?

Claire Allcutt, Public Health Nurse and Lactation Consultant.

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