¿Qué dicen las madres gitanas de la lactancia materna? / What gypsy mothers say about breastfeeding?

Objetivo: Conocer y profundizar en la valoración, la experiencia y la vivencia de las mujeres de etnia gitana con la lactancia materna. Método: Estudio cualitativo con un enfoque fenomenológico interpretativo, a través de la realización de un grupo focal en el que participaron 6 madres de etnia gitana usuarias del Centro de Salud de Fuente de San Luis de la ciudad de Valencia. Resultados: Las barreras descritas por estas madres en cuanto a la lactancia refieren: una falta de apoyo familiar, una asociación del amamantamiento al sacrificio y a la dependencia del bebé al pecho. De los relatos de estas madres se percibe un desinterés por la lactancia, y una falta de confianza en su propia biología que, unido a una escasa participación en las actividades de educación maternal, han supuesto las barreras que mayormente han limitado y dificultado en gran parte la lactancia en este grupo de madres. Conclusiones: Sería deseable poner en marcha acciones de mejora que prestaran mayor atención en promover, proteger y apoyar la lactancia en este colectivo.(AU)

Objective: To know and deepen in the evaluation, and experience of gypsy women with breastfeeding. Method: Qualitative study with an interpretative phenomenological approach, through a focus group with the participation of six mothers of gypsy ethnicity, users of the Fuente de San Luis Health Center in the city of Valencia. Results: The barriers described by these mothers regarding breastfeeding refer to a lack of family support, an association of breastfeeding to sacrifice and to the dependence of the baby to the breast. From the accounts of these mothers it is perceived, a disinterest in breastfeeding and a lack of confidence in their own bilogy, which together with a low participation in maternal education activities, have meant the barriers that have mostly limited and largely hindered breastfeeding in this group of mothers. Conclusions: It would be desirable to implement improvement actions that would pay more attention to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in this group.(AU)

What gypsy mothers say about breastfeeding.

OBJECTIVE: To know and deepen in the evaluation, and experience of gypsy women with breastfeeding. METHOD: Qualitative study with an interpretative phenomenological approach, through a focus group with the participation of six mothers of gypsy ethnicity, users of the Fuente de San Luis Health Center in the city of Valencia. RESULTS: The barriers described by these mothers regarding breastfeeding refer to a lack of family support, an association of breastfeeding to sacrifice and to the dependence of the baby to the breast. From the accounts of these mothers it is perceived, a disinterest in breastfeeding and a lack of confidence in their own bilogy, which together with a low participation in maternal education activities, have meant the barriers that have mostly limited and largely hindered breastfeeding in this group of mothers. CONCLUSIONS: It would be desirable to implement improvement actions that would pay more attention to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in this group.

The Baby-Friendly Initiative in Spain: A Challenging Pathway.

The Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI-Spain) was founded in 1995 by members of key professional associations (pediatricians, midwives, obstetricians, and nurses) and some mother-to-mother support groups. The United Nations International Children's Fund was instrumental in supporting the establishment of BFI-Spain as a not-for-profit organization. In 2007, the need for change was identified. A detailed analysis of BFI-Spain identified its main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. A new strategic plan was devised that included the adoption of a staged accreditation system, a new website, expanding the initiative into the community, consolidating working teams to distribute tasks and responsibilities, and trying to involve the national health authorities. This article describes the analysis that was undertaken, the strategies implemented, and some of the outcomes observed 4 years later. The aim of the article is to support BFI teams in other countries who might be facing similar challenges.

Diet supplementation during early lactation with non-alcoholic beer increases the antioxidant properties of breastmilk and decreases the oxidative damage in breastfeeding mothers.

BACKGROUND: After delivery and birth, mothers and neonates are exposed to oxidative stress. We tested whether supplementing the diet of breastfeeding mothers with non-alcoholic beer, a product rich in antioxidants, could improve their oxidative status and the antioxidant content of their milk. A prospective trial begun on Day 2 postpartum was conducted in mother-infant dyads. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty breastfeeding mothers and their infants were allocated to either a control group (n=30) on a free diet or a study group (n=30) on a free diet supplemented with 660 mL of non-alcoholic beer/day. The oxidative status of the mothers' breastmilk, plasma, and urine and the infant's urine was analyzed on Days 2 and 30 postpartum. The before-after difference was compared within and between the groups. RESULTS: The increase in antioxidant capacity and coenzyme Q10 content in the breastmilk of the study group at Day 30 was higher than in that of the control group (p<0.001). There was also a change in the oxidative status of the mothers' plasma in the supplemented group regarding the control group; higher values of total antioxidant capacity (p<0.05) and lower levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (p<0.05), indicative of DNA oxidative damage, were found. These results indicate a positive effect of non-alcoholic beer supplementation on oxidative stress in mothers. However, no difference in oxidant markers was found in the infant's urine. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of non-alcoholic beer appears to enhance the antioxidant capacity of breastmilk and decrease oxidative damage in breastfeeding mothers.