Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your baby (and undoubtedly the best). However, the fact that it is natural does not mean that it is always easy. For some mothers, there may be some problems that make it difficult to breastfeed and for which they will need support to help them cope.
Fortunately, today there are many resources they can turn to when this happens, and according to recent research, maternity groups on social media are some of the best supports for overcoming breastfeeding difficulties .
This discovery was the conclusion of two studies conducted by a group of researchers from the University of Georgia, published in the journals Digital Health and the Journal of Human Lactation . In them, it was analyzed if the maternity groups on Facebook provided the necessary support for mothers to start and continue breastfeeding , compared to other traditional forms of support, such as medical staff or a family member, and how that Support received through these groups impacted her breastfeeding.
To analyze this, we surveyed 300 mothers who were actively participating in breastfeeding support groups on Facebook, and conducted various focus groups to learn about their experience in those Facebook groups.
Based on their results, the researchers think that this type of exposure to other breastfeeding mothers who are similar to them and who encourage them to breastfeed in public or to breastfeed beyond 12 months, gave the surveyed mothers the confidence necessary to prolong the breastfeeding period. time they wanted to breastfeed their babies .
According to Ayanna Robinson, one of the researchers, participating mothers said they liked to seek support on Facebook because access is available 24 hours a day, and there is always someone willing to help and who has also had experience with any of the difficulties that arise.
Another advantage of these breastfeeding support groups is that the fact that they are online means that they are available to mothers who have trouble finding face- to-face breastfeeding support or who are in isolated locations.
Many of these breastfeeding support groups, especially most of the ones they reviewed during the research, are moderated or run by lactation professionals , so the information shared among users is based on scientific evidence.
It is important to clarify that the study focused only on mothers of African American origin, however, according to the authors of the study, the results of this research are possibly similar in all mothers , regardless of their origin or origin.
We have already said it before on several occasions: motherhood is easier when you have a tribe and this research proves the usefulness of social networks as a support tool for mothers who have difficulties with breastfeeding.
Photo | iStock
Via | University of Georgia
