Breastfeeding Experiences of Taiwanese Mothers of Infants with Breastfeeding or Breast Milk Jaundice in Certified Baby-Friendly Hospitals

PURPOSE: The purpose was to explore the breastfeeding experiences of mothers of infants with breast-feeding or breast milk jaundice. METHODS: In-depth qualitative interviews and content analysis were conducted with nine mothers of newborns with breastfeeding and/or breast milk jaundice who breastfed their babies during the first year postpartum. RESULTS: Mothers' experiences can be described in four phases and six themes. (1) Prenatal stage: build breastfeeding belief, i.e., breastfeeding is best and a natural behavior, without awareness of neonatal jaundice; (2) stage after neonatal jaundice started to appear: include two themes, questioning beliefs in breastfeeding and happiness in being a mother. Mothers lacked knowledge and ignored the threat of neonatal jaundice, mainly focused on their physical discomforts and worried about insufficient breast milk; they also felt an intimate mothereinfant bond through breastfeeding; (3) stage when newborns had confirmed diagnosis of breastfeeding or breast milk jaundice that required medical attention: include two themes, diagnosis of breastfeeding or breast milk jaundice and phototherapy caused negative emotions and regaining original beliefs about breastfeeding. They struggled through emotional swings and inconsistent advices about whether phototherapy and formula supplementation are needed. Then, they decided breastfeeding or breast milk jaundice is only temporary and retrieved initial beliefs of breastfeeding. (4) Stage after neonatal jaundice faded and mothers continued breastfeeding: insisting and adapting. CONCLUSION: Breastfeeding mothers were unaware of neonatal jaundice until medical attention was required; they experienced physical and mental distress and gradually learned to manage jaundice while insisting on breastfeeding through their breastfeeding beliefs and happiness in being mothers.

Factors associated with seeking western or Chinese medical treatment for fertility among women with breast cancer in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: To examine and describe the use of Western and Chinese Medicine for pregnancy preparation among women with breast cancer after cancer-related treatment in Taiwan. METHODS: Women of reproductive age (20-49 years) women who were treated for breast cancer from January 2011 through June 2015 in a Taiwanese city participated in the study. Of 306 eligible study participants, interviews were completed in 197 (64%). Participants were asked about sociodemographic variables, disease and treatment characteristics, their desire for fertility, and their use of Western or Chinese Medicine. RESULTS: The proportions of women who planned to use Western or Chinese Medicine to help achieve pregnancy were 17.3% and 14.7%, respectively. The result of binary logistic regression showed that current employment and lack of children were factors predictive of the use of Western Medicine. Younger age and the use of Chinese Medicine before treatment were predictors of using Chinese Medicine. While the desire for fertility preservation was related to the use of Western Medicine, the desire for pregnancy was related to the use of Chinese Medicine. CONCLUSION: Various characteristics guided the women's decisions to use Western or Chinese Medicine. Health care providers should learn patients' preferences for fertility preservation and provide appropriate advice, referring them to safe providers of their desired method of fertility treatment.