Table 4.

Preliminary results of experiences of health care professionals before and after breastfeeding

Before breastfeeding experience

After breastfeeding experience

● Little formal training on breastfeeding ● Lack of knowledge of breastfeeding norms ● Familiar with myths on when to wean e.g. when the child gets teeth, or can talk, or is just “too old” ● Feelings of discomfort around breastfeeding mothers

● Positive experiences of breastfeeding to sleep conflicted with some mainstream baby sleep advice ● Keeping mothering practices (e.g. natural term breastfeeding) secret from colleagues for fear of disapproval: ● HCPs’ work environment not breastfeeding friendly for mothers who return to work while breastfeeding ● Important informal knowledge gained from own experience, support groups, online communities and observing other mothers ● Participants became ‘breastfeeding champions’ ○ Participants used as informal breastfeeding experts by colleagues ○ Used knowledge of normal breastfeeding and sleep behaviour to support mothers ○ Able to recognise and confidently challenge breastfeeding unfriendly practice