TY - JOUR
T1 - Protect, promote and support: a warm chain of breastfeeding for oncological women—results from a survey of young Italian cancer mothers
AU - Smorti, Martina
AU - Testa, Ilaria
AU - Gallese, Marta
AU - Dotti, Arianna
AU - Ionio, Chiara
AU - Andreol, Angelica
AU - Zilioli, Anna
AU - Pravettoni, Gabriella
AU - Greco, Andrea
AU - Fenaroli, Valentina
AU - Nastasi, Giuseppe
AU - Giuntini, Nicola
AU - Bonassi, Lucia
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - The objective of this article was to analyse the experience of breastfeeding in new mothers with a history of cancer compared to women without a cancer diagnosis. First, we explored the impact of the cancer diagnosis on the breastfeeding choice. Second, we evaluated the relationship between different feeding methods and the mother’s mood states in women with and without a history of cancer.
The sample was composed of 74 mothers divided into two groups: 34 with a cancer history (clinical sample) and 40 without a cancer diagnosis (control group). Participants were requested to complete a questionnaire three months after childbirth which assessed: socio-demographic and clinical data, feeding modes (breastfeeding, formula and mixed feeding) and the profile of mood states (POMS).
Results showed that women in the clinical group breastfeed significantly less and use formula more than those in the control group. Moreover, in the clinical group, women who breastfeed feel reported higher levels of confusion (according to POMS) than mothers who bottle-feed or use a mixed feeding method. On the contrary, in the control sample, women who breastfeed feel significantly more vigorous than puerperae who bottle-feed or use mixed methods according to POMS.
Our findings suggest the need for a specific warm chain of support and the development of guidelines with clear and specific information for women with a cancer diagnosis in order to reduce their confusion around breastfeeding.
AB - The objective of this article was to analyse the experience of breastfeeding in new mothers with a history of cancer compared to women without a cancer diagnosis. First, we explored the impact of the cancer diagnosis on the breastfeeding choice. Second, we evaluated the relationship between different feeding methods and the mother’s mood states in women with and without a history of cancer.
The sample was composed of 74 mothers divided into two groups: 34 with a cancer history (clinical sample) and 40 without a cancer diagnosis (control group). Participants were requested to complete a questionnaire three months after childbirth which assessed: socio-demographic and clinical data, feeding modes (breastfeeding, formula and mixed feeding) and the profile of mood states (POMS).
Results showed that women in the clinical group breastfeed significantly less and use formula more than those in the control group. Moreover, in the clinical group, women who breastfeed feel reported higher levels of confusion (according to POMS) than mothers who bottle-feed or use a mixed feeding method. On the contrary, in the control sample, women who breastfeed feel significantly more vigorous than puerperae who bottle-feed or use mixed methods according to POMS.
Our findings suggest the need for a specific warm chain of support and the development of guidelines with clear and specific information for women with a cancer diagnosis in order to reduce their confusion around breastfeeding.
KW - breastfeeding, cancer, mental health, warm chain
KW - breastfeeding, cancer, mental health, warm chain
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/165353
U2 - 10.3332/ecancer.2020.1151
DO - 10.3332/ecancer.2020.1151
M3 - Article
SN - 1754-6605
VL - 14
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - ecancermedicalscience
JF - ecancermedicalscience
ER -