Fathers’ emotional challenges and barriers to supporting breastfeeding initiation and duration

Abstract

Exclusive breastfeeding has significant health benefits for mother and child. Research highlights the important role of fathers in helping increase breastfeeding rates, but little is known about their emotional needs and how these affect breastfeeding decisions. This article aims to explore and identify the emotional challenges fathers experience, and how they affect initiation and duration rates. Eleven studies were included in the literature review and four themes were identified: Information/education; Decision making; Role/attachment; and Wellbeing. The findings suggest that fathers should be proactively involved in breastfeeding interventions and should recognise their own emotional needs to positively influence breastfeeding rates.