Bottle-feeding, a neglected area of learning and support for nurses working in child health: An exploratory qualitative study.

Breastfeeding is the ideal infant feeding modality; however, the reality is some parents need or choose to use bottles to feed their infants. Parents who bottle-feed have been identified as not receiving adequate levels of bottle-feeding information and advice from health professionals. This study's aim was to explore nurses' knowledge of the components in the bottle-feeding act. Twenty-one nurses working in early parenting residential units participated in three focus groups. Three themes were identified relating to nurses' bottle-feeding knowledge: experience not evidence-based, it is hard to know what to advise, we will support whatever choice they make. The nurses identified a deficit in their knowledge, education and training related to the components of bottle-feeding. The nurses struggled with their interpretation of infant feeding policies and the provision of bottle-feeding information to parents. Nurses working in child and family health were motivated to inform, educate and enable parents to confidently make decisions concerning infant feeding. The healthcare system and the infant feeding policy drivers appear to have a mixed and at times negative impact on nurses' practice. Further research is required across a larger population of nurses.

Bottle-feeding an infant feeding modality: An integrative literature review.

Bottle-feeding is an infant feeding modality that has been in existence since ancient times, and currently, a significant number of infants are being fed via a bottle with either breastmilk or formula. Although research on bottle-feeding has continued, it exists in fragmented, often small studies that focus on singular aspects of feeding an infant using a bottle, with limited information on the bottle-feeding act. Systems theory was the approach used to define the act of bottle-feeding and identify the parts within this act. Health databases were searched using MeSH terms. A summary of the studies are included. The findings of this review revealed that healthy term bottle-feeding infants use similar tongue and jaw movements, can create suction and sequentially use teat compression to obtain milk, with minimal differences in oxygen saturation and SSB patterns, when compared with breastfeeding infants. Bottle and teat characteristics were revealed to affect infant feeding and milk intake. An infant's milk intake during feeding was shown to have a strong association with the interaction between the infant and parent/caregiver. With the issue of who controls the feed, mother or infant, likely to affect an infant's ability to self-regulate their milk intake. Redefining bottle-feeding as a holistic system identifies the interrelationship of the various parts which will improve the understanding of the reciprocal nature of infant feeding. To optimize bottle-feeding outcomes, further research is required on parents' and health professionals' knowledge and understanding of the parts within the act of bottle-feeding.