If breast is best, why stop now? Using the grounded theory method to understand why primiparous mothers stop breastfeeding earlier than planned

The present study sought to examine the reasons primiparous women gave for terminating their breastfeeding practices before the recommended cut-off of 6 months postpartum. I interviewed 8 women who had recently terminated breastfeeding and conducted a grounded theory analysis of the transcripts from those interviews. I conceptualized the core category as Collapse Into Bottle-Feeding. to take into account all of the physical and emotional issues a woman can experience as she tries unsuccessfully to establish and maintain a breastfeeding routine. This collapse occurs in three phases.;The findings of previously conducted studies that examined why women stopped breastfeeding earlier than they had expected are discussed. In particular, past research results that examined the relationship between depression and breastfeeding, perceived insufficient milk supply, moral obligation to breastfeed, breastfeeding identity, the difficulty overcoming numerous breastfeeding barriers, and the physical pain associated with breastfeeding are mentioned. The results of the present study are discussed in relation to these barriers. The current understanding is compared to two other theories that have been applied to account for differences in breastfeeding initiation and maintenance, the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Self-Efficacy Theory. Finally, implications are posited regarding the practice of breastfeeding and recommendations for future studies regarding breastfeeding duration and barriers to breastfeeding were acknowledged.;The first stage is Breastfeeding as a Moral Good which takes place in pregnancy when a primiparous woman decides to breastfeed her child after experiencing enormous societal pressure to do so. The next stage is conceptualized as The Struggle: it represents all of the difficulties that occur when a woman puts forth great effort to continue her breastfeeding practices while experiencing a number of obstacles for which she is unprepared and unable to overcome. The final stage is Letting Go of the Ideal Mother when a woman resolves her breastfeeding issues and switches to exclusive bottle-feeding. This last stage is characterized by the woman coming to the conclusion that it is not one's chosen feeding style that makes a woman an ideal mother; rather, whatever feeding method is best for mother is also the best option for baby.