Alwi, Nor Kamariah Mohamad
(2023)
Expression of breastmilk: qualitative exploration on challenges and experience of working women in Malaysia.
Masters thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Abstract
Breastmilk expression is a practice of extracting breastmilk to be stored and
used for feeding infants. Women around the world has been practicing it for different
reasons and using different methods and tools. However, there was lack of reference
on milk expression among Malaysian working women. This study explored Malaysian
working women views and experiences of on the expression of breastmilk, specifically
on the reasons of practicing, influencing factors in choosing breastmilk expression
method and their experiences in the practice. The initial participants were recruited
through breastfeeding support groups from three locations in Malaysia which were
Pulau Pinang, Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan. The subsequent participants were
recommended by the earlier participants using snowballing technique. Face-to-face
interviews were conducted using a semi structured interview guide with consented
mothers of an infant age between three to twelve months old and were practicing any
method of milk expression. All interviews’ sessions were audio recorded and
transcribed verbatim. A total of 19 participants aged between 28 to 41 among Malay
and Chinese were interviewed. All participants were working in various sectors with
status of employment ranging from part time, flexible hours, full time workers, self employed
and on leave. Each participant was practicing milk expression while
continuing breastfeeding an infant aged between four to eleven months. The methods
of breastmilk expression used were hand expression, breast pump and suction cup.
Thematic analysis of the findings was presented into three sections which are reasons
for practicing milk expression, influencing factors of milk expression method and experiences of milk expression. Four themes emerged from reasons for practicing milk
expression were separation between mother and infant, milk production and supply
concerns, direct feeding barriers and infant related reasons. Two themes emerged from
the influencing factors in choosing milk expression method were internal influences
and external influences. Four main themes emerged from the experiences of milk
expression were milk expression practices, motivation in milk expressing, challenges
in milk expressing and coping mechanism while facing challenges in milk expression.
From the findings of reasons that emerged in this study, it showed that high
determination of working mothers in Malaysia to continue providing breastmilk
despite various challenges they were facing. The influencing factors in choosing milk
expression method could provide descriptive information for practitioners to guide
breastfeeding mothers in choosing their method. Further study involving multiple
stakeholders should be considered to develop a comprehensive guide in supporting
women in milk expression practices
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