Normas que regulan el comportamiento del adolescente en la familia

This theme identified the range of factors that enabled the whānau participants to fulfil their support role. For example, flexible working arrangements (e.g. flexible hours, ability

to work from home) were imperative as they enabled whānau members to be more

involved in the care and support of the mother and newborn infants. Although parental leave for partners to take time off work after the baby is born is sometimes provided for

within employment contracts, the whānau participants’ workplace policies that allow for partners/whānau to accompany wāhine to their antenatal appointments was also critical to their advocacy role:

“I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve been working casually so I haven’t had any fixed

work commitments, which may be difficult for other fathers. That way I’ve been

able to participate a lot more, and adjust my sleeping hours accordingly….” (WH02)

Having access to knowledgeable and caring health professionals was also important for

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seen as providing support in an area where the whānau members felt they had knowledge

gaps:

“…she needed a professional to reassure her, but she would have breastfed

anyway. But as far as technique goes it might have meant the difference between

her carrying on, had she not had support she might not have wanted to… I saw

her go to health professionals when mum wasn’t around….” (WH01)

It was also suggested that health professionals could support whānau by knowing when to provide space for them by to be involved in the day to day care of both the mother and infant. This insight would also support whānau to be confident in their capabilities as key breastfeeding supporters and to see themselves and their role as important:

“They were great on participation, and he was only three or four days old when he had his bath. I was able to participate in that as well…they were really good

with paternal contact.” (WH02)

The whānau participants also acknowledged the need for wider community support and acceptance of breastfeeding. The building of a breastfeeding culture in the community was acknowledged as challenging but integral to the enhancement of the breastfeeding

support role. Whānau participants felt this could be achieved through local government policies, for example prioritising the establishment of suitable places to feed:

“Seems more places for smokers to go to smoke than there are for mums to breastfeed, what’s with that?” (WH02)

Supporting the supporters is about valuing the breastfeeding support role, and enabling whānau to care for Māori women who are responsible for nurturing the infant. Fostering a supportive environment in the whānau unit requires the acknowledgement and

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4.6 Conclusion

The findings of the Kia Mau, Kia Ū study highlight the desires of Māori women to breastfeed. Within the five themes (Filling the Kete, Health Service Support, Whānau

Support, Hapori – Supportive Communities and Role-modelling Breastfeeding)we hear an urgent call for better access to high quality breastfeeding information, a compassionate and culturally-safe maternity healthcare workforce, active whānau involvement, greater acceptance of breastfeeding by the wider community and access to breastfeeding role models. While partners and whānau provide important emotional and practical support to breastfeeding women as highlighted by the theme The Breastfeeding Support Role, the significance of this role needs to be acknowledged and encouraged. The theme Supporting the Supporters highlights the need to build whānau capacity and capabilities whereas the theme Access to Information stresses the importance of breastfeeding support

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Chapter Five: Discussion

5.1 Introduction

Having a baby can be a life-changing event for the mother and her whānau. Establishing and maintaining breastfeeding can be challenging even for those women who have clear intentions to breastfeed and have dedicated breastfeeding support. For those who enter parenthood with limited or no access to breastfeeding resources and support, the journey towards a successful breastfeeding relationship can be filled with feelings of tremendous disappointment, shame and regret. Moreover, the international evidence suggests that the breakdown of the breastfeeding relationship can come at a significant cost to the physical and emotional health of the mother and her infant and a financial burden for the whānau and wider society.

The primary goal of this study was to develop a breastfeeding support framework for wāhine Māori living in Taranaki as a way of increasing breastfeeding initiation and maintenance for wāhine Māori and enhancing the breastfeeding relationship between Taranaki women and their pēpī. To achieve this, it was necessary to identify the barriers to and facilitators of successful breastfeeding as experienced by wāhine Māori and their main supporters - partners and whānau. The use of Kaupapa Māori and Mana Wāhine research methodologies ensured that the breastfeeding support framework prioritised

Māori knowledge and understandings whilst at the same time privileging the rights of

wāhine to determine their breastfeeding journey.

The first part of this chapter presents a discussion of the main study findings with reference to the original research questions and the existing literature. Part two of this

chapter considers the implications of the study findings for whānau, health care providers and the wider community. This final section of this chapter uses the knowledge gained to

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