The breastfeeding and early motherhood experiences of older first-time mothers: A constructivist grounded theory study

Objective: The objective of this paper is to present the results of a qualitative study that explored the factors surrounding decision-making related to breastfeeding and the experiences of early motherhood for 23 first-time mothers over the age of 35 in Canada. Previous studies on breastfeeding have not examined older first-time mothers as a group that is unique due to their experience of coming to motherhood in the context of the growing phenomenon of delayed childbearing in the 21st century. Many older women come to motherhood with both well-established life and professional experiences, and as such their needs may differ from their younger or multiparous counterparts. The research question was: "What factors affect how first-time mothers > 35 years of age make decisions about breastfeeding, and how do these factors affect the decisions they make related to breastfeeding and their transition to motherhood in the first six months postpartum?" Design: Constructivist grounded theory Findings: The theory of From Ideology to Independence: Older First-time Mothers, Breastfeeding, and Becoming a Mother provides a lens to view the underlying processes influencing the decisions the mothers made related to breastfeeding and early motherhood. The mothers worked through the processes of learning breastfeeding, redefining self, and defining motherhood. The mothers' belief that breastfeeding defines motherhood, coupled with lack of knowledge and control, had a negative effect on both early breastfeeding and their transition to motherhood. As the idea of breastfeeding equating successful mothering waned the mothers became active agents in decision-making related to infant feeding and mothering.