Preliminary Research Explores Maternal Perceptions of Infant Feeding Bias Within Irish Healthcare
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Preliminary findings from a new national study, conducted in collaboration between TU Dublin and Bainne Beatha and funded by the Health Research Board, have identified recurring themes in mothers' perceptions of infant feeding support within the Irish healthcare system.
Abigail Bacon, MPhil student at TU Dublin, analysed 23,893 comments from 4,695 mothers across Ireland. The preliminary analysis suggests that many mothers perceived a healthcare culture in which formula feeding was often treated as the default and breastfeeding support could feel inconsistent, under-resourced, or dependent on individual staff members rather than being systematically embedded across services.
For example, mothers said hospitals were “under staffed and too busy to help establish/support mothers with breastfeeding” and “…formula was very much top pick especially since a trolley comes around everyday with free formula bottles and if you choose to breastfeed you're pretty much left to fend for yourself.”
While many mothers described positive and supportive experiences with healthcare professionals, who were described as “superb” and “very encouraging”, others reported feeling pressured towards formula feeding, receiving conflicting advice, struggling to access timely breastfeeding support, or feeling unsupported during feeding difficulties.
Deborah Byrne, founder of Bainne Beatha, said:
“These preliminary findings highlight important patterns in how mothers experience infant feeding support within Irish healthcare settings. Many mothers described perceiving breastfeeding as insufficiently prioritised within the system due to staffing pressures, inconsistent training, and limited access to timely support. Individual healthcare professionals are often doing their best within difficult conditions, but these findings suggest the wider system may not be adequately supporting either staff or families.”
In its forthcoming pre-budget submission, Bainne Beatha will call for:
- improved staffing ratios to allow midwives adequate time to provide timely and skilled breastfeeding support,
- exploration of novel breastfeeding support models, including night-time healthcare assistants trained to provide basic breastfeeding support outside IBCLC hours,
- and the development of CPD programmes to help healthcare professionals identify and address potential anti-breastfeeding bias.
Further details from the research will be published in a forthcoming academic article.