What factors influence a teenage mothers choice to breastfeed - Essay Example

The said information was gathered through library-based qualitative research and then organized and analyzed to answer the research question which is the enumeration and discussion of the factors that influence the choice of teenage mothers to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is being promoted to the public as the main method in feeding infants. This can be attributed to the benefits that can be obtained for both the mother and the infant. Although this is considered as a readily available and natural method to use, breastfeeding remains to be unpopular in the United Kingdom.

In fact based on studies, only approximately 40 to 60 percent of mothers are breastfeeding (NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, 2000). The need to promote breastfeeding is based on the specific advantages that it can bring about for both the mother and the infant. One is the strengthening of emotional connection between the mother and the baby through the contact and the experience itself. Another benefit is based on the essence and definition of motherhood. This is because breastfeeding is an act that can only be done by the mother, thus, it reaffirms the bond.

In another view, the mother can be benefited in the sense that breastfeeding can help restore her body shape prior to pregnancy which is commonly an important concern for women who undergone the experience of giving birth. Lastly, breastfeeding can be considered as an affordable method to child rearing with the added advantage of being good for the infant’s health and immune system (Black, Jarman and Simpson, 1998). With the said reasons and benefits, it is a concern that the percentage of mothers utilizing the method is still limited or less than what is expected.

In relation to the view of the benefits of breastfeeding, it is deemed important to determine the factors that can affect the