{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,29]],"date-time":"2026-07-29T18:02:38Z","timestamp":1785348158775,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]],"date-time":"2026-07-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785110400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J Hum Lact"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Returning to work can disrupt breastfeeding continuity, particularly when workplace environments do not support milk expression. Adequate time, privacy, and appropriate physical spaces are essential for sustaining breastfeeding among working mothers.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study explored nurses\u2019 experiences, perceptions, and expectations regarding breastfeeding and milk expression after returning to work postpartum.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach was used. Data were collected from 13 nurses working in a public hospital in T\u00fcrkiye through semi-structured interviews conducted until data saturation. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Five themes were identified: maintaining breastfeeding, thoughts about breastfeeding\/expressing breast milk at work, experiences of expressing breast milk, evaluation of the breastfeeding\/milk expression environment, and nurses\u2019 expectations during the period of expressing breast milk at work. Nurses reported challenges such as limited time for milk expression, lack of privacy, inadequate or uncomfortable lactation spaces, and insufficient organizational and colleague support. Supportive coworkers and accessible lactation facilities facilitated continued breastfeeding.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Workplace conditions strongly influence nurses\u2019 ability to sustain breastfeeding after returning to work. Insufficient lactation spaces, limited time, and lack of privacy hinder milk expression, whereas supportive colleagues and organizational policies facilitate it. Creating dedicated, private, and comfortable lactation rooms, and strengthening workplace support systems, may improve breastfeeding continuity among nurses.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/08903344261465263","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]],"date-time":"2026-07-27T10:17:10Z","timestamp":1785147430000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Impact of Returning to Work on Nurses\u2019 Breastfeeding and Milk Expression Experiences: A Qualitative Study"],"prefix":"10.1177","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2287-8143","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ay\u015fen","family":"Karata\u015f","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5899-0524","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Merlinda","family":"Alu\u015f Tokat","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Nursing, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecologic Nursing, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_3_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ahmad R. S. Sulaiman Z. Nik Hussain N. H. Mohd Noor N. (2022). Working mothers\u2019 breastfeeding experience: A phenomenology qualitative approach. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 22(1) Article 85. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12884-021-04304-4","DOI":"10.1186\/s12884-021-04304-4"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Almeida L. M. N. Goulart M. C. E. L. G\u00f3es F. G. B. Pereira-\u00c1vila F. M. V. Pinto C. B. Silva A. C. S. S. D. Garcia L. R. Brun L. S. O. (2023). Continuing breastfeeding upon returning to work: Feelings challenges and strategies of breastfeeding nurses. Revista Ga\u00facha de Enfermagem 44 Article e20230075. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1590\/1983-1447.2023.20230075.en","DOI":"10.1590\/1983-1447.2023.20230075.pt"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_4_1","unstructured":"American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2023). Practice advisory to update the duration of breastfeeding. https:\/\/www.acog.org\/clinical\/clinical-guidance\/practice-advisory\/articles\/2023\/02\/duration-of-breastfeeding-update"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Braun V. Clarke V. (2012). Thematic analysis. In Cooper H. Camic P. M. Long D. L. Panter A. T. Rindskopf D. Sher K. J. (Eds.) APA handbook of research methods in psychology Vol. 2. Research designs: Quantitative qualitative neuropsychological and biological (pp. 57\u201371). American Psychological Association. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/13620-004","DOI":"10.1037\/13620-004"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brewer T. L. (2012). Pediatric nurses\u2019 knowledge and attitudes regarding the provision of breastfeeding support in a pediatric medical center. 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