Breastfeeding: Are There Thorns to This Rose?

From an exploratory investigation done with twelve French-speaking first-time mothers living around Ottawa, Canada, we will describe the three visits we did with them: the first visit was during the 8th month of their pregnancy, the second & third visits were at 2 & 6 months after the baby's delivery. We will then look at their narratives of the expectations, & the reality of giving birth & becoming mothers. We will also report on their breastfeeding experiences. At our second visit, the breastfeeding experience became the main topic, which was described as a profound "malaise" (awkwardness). The second part of this publication will briefly introduce the breastfeeding health policy & describe the current environment of breastfeeding support received, which clearly values the baby's wellness, often to the detriment of that of the woman giving birth. Lastly, we will put the emphasis on the difference between the promoted official view on breastfeeding & the actual experiences of the women we met. We will conclude by asserting that the experience of motherhood is influenced equally by the ideological perspective offered by the hospital environment, & by the lack of assistance offered to new mothers. Adapted from the source document.