Building a place for the father as an ally for breast feeding

Objective: to analyse the opinions of men and women on the father's participation in breast feeding. Design: a qualitative and exploratory study, using the content analysis method, on its thematic modality. Data were collected at discussion groups that answered the following questions: which meanings and feelings are related to father's involvement in breast feeding? Which factors help or obstruct the act of breast feeding? How do fathers participate in breast feeding? Setting: three discussion groups took place during the event 'The man as an ally in breast feeding process: is that the question?', supported by the Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil. Participants: 11 men and nine women attended the event. Of the men, two had more than one child and five had babies who were being breast fed, Among the women, all were mothers and three were breast feeding. Findings: four thematic nuclei emerged from the performed analysis, which was also based in the historical, social and cultural process of fatherhood: involvement in the pregnancy-puerperal cycle; feelings and meanings of breast feeding; meanings of breast feeding in public; and ways to include father in the breast-feeding process. Key conclusions and implications for practice: fathers participating in breast feeding considered it to be a brief period in the process of fatherhood. Behaviours of ambivalence, conflict, exclusion, insecurity and concern towards breast feeding were revealed. There was a perception of the nursing mother as a sexless being. However, the participants also suggested ways of including fathers in the process of breast feeding. According to the participants, they could (1) provide a favourable environment for the mother and baby; (2) participate more during pregnancy and birth; (3) help with domestic chores; (4) develop parenthood; and (5) be present during breast feeding. These suggestions may function as foundations for health staff to develop programmes, in order to involve fathers in breast feeding. This could result in a contribution to improve the practice and duration of that process. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.