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. 2021 Feb 1;16(1):18–30. doi: 10.51866/rv0997

Table 5. Challenges in inducing lactation.

Author (Year)

Study design Number of participants/articles

Summary of the findings on the perceptions of satisfaction in inducing lactation

Nemba12 (1994)

Case report 37 participants

Internal factor: i. Demotivated

External factor:

i. Lack of support and encouragement

Gribble9 (2006)

Review 163 articles as references

Internal factor:

i. Emotional instability in adoptive infants characterized by the cycle of progression-regression-progression of trying to directly breastfeed an adopted child.

Bryant8 (2006)

Review 26 articles as references

Internal factor:

i. Difficulty in committing time to frequently pump or breastfeed

External factor:

i. Lack of support from the public, which views inducing lactation as odd or not worth the effort

Goldfarb2 (2010)

Original paper (qualitative and quantitative design) 228 participants

Internal factors:

i.  Worrying about the baby getting enough milk

ii.  Sore nipples/breasts

iii.  Fatigue

iv.  Getting baby to breastfeed

v.  Lack of preparation time

External factor:

i. Equipment difficulties

Saari et al.5 (2015)

Original paper (qualitative design) 12 participants

Internal factors:

i.  Lack of commitment

ii.  Health problems

External factors:

i.  Misconceptions

ii.  Lack of support

iii.  Non-conducive work environment

iv.  Career setback

Cazorla-Ortiz18 (2019)

Original paper (qualitative design) 9 participants

Internal factors:

i.  Hardship to endure induced-lactation protocols

ii.  Doubts and fears while inducing lactation, such as not being able to produce milk or producing an insufficient amount of milk

iii.  Problems with breasts, such as cracked nipples, nipple blebs, blocked ducts, pain, and suction problems

iv.  Doubts if amount of milk supplied was sufficient during breastfeeding period

v.  The end of shared responsibility for breastfeeding with the partner during breastfeeding cessation

vi.  Reduced feeling of closeness to the child during breastfeeding cessation

External factor:

i. Difficulty obtaining information from health professionals