{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,27]],"date-time":"2026-02-27T05:09:38Z","timestamp":1772168978171,"version":"3.50.1"},"update-to":[{"DOI":"10.12688\/hrbopenres.13856.1","type":"new_version","label":"New version","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,16]],"date-time":"2024-12-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1734307200000}}],"reference-count":52,"publisher":"F1000 Research Ltd","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,16]],"date-time":"2024-12-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1734307200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["hrbopenresearch.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["HRB Open Res"],"abstract":"<ns3:p>Background Breastfeeding rates in Ireland are among the lowest in the world. Lactation consultancy provides mothers with support and information on how to cope with any challenges they encounter. There is emerging evidence that COVID-19 restrictions impacted access to and the quality of breastfeeding support. The aim of this study was to explore breastfeeding mothers\u2019 and lactation consultants\u2019 experiences of breastfeeding support throughout the COVID-19 restrictions in Ireland. It also aimed to explore what adaptations had to be made to the delivery of lactation consultancy and how these changes impacted mothers\u2019 experiences of breastfeeding support. Methods A qualitative research design was chosen. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants, three breastfeeding mothers and five lactation consultants. Interviews were conducted online via Zoom, audio-recorded and transcribed. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Five key themes were identified: \u2018Lack of Support\u2019, \u2018Adapting to COVID-19 Restrictions\u2019, Emotional Response to COVID-19 and Restrictions\u2019, Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 as a Barrier to and Facilitator of Support\u2019 and Inconsistency of Lactation Support Across Ireland\u2019. Both lactation consultants and mothers identified similar issues however, slight variations within lactation consultants' perceptions of mothers\u2019 and mothers\u2019 attitudes towards online services were seen. An notable finding was the lack of support in hospitals pre-COVID-19. Conclusions Both mothers\u2019 and lactation consultants\u2019 experiences of lactation consultancy were impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions. Although exacerbated by COVID-19, the lack of support in hospitals existed before COVID-19. Provision of better breastfeeding support is required. Increased availability of lactation consultants and the implementation of breastfeeding rooms within hospitals is required in addition to debrief counselling sessions for lactation consultants. Further research is required to understand the unavailability of lactation consultants in hospital settings and to identify how to manage breastfeeding support in future emergency situations.<\/ns3:p>","DOI":"10.12688\/hrbopenres.13856.2","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,16]],"date-time":"2024-12-16T03:25:07Z","timestamp":1734319507000},"page":"9","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.12688\/hrbopenres.crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Exploring Breastfeeding Mothers\u2019 and Lactation Consultants\u2019 Experiences of Lactation Consultancy Throughout the Restrictions Put in Place Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic"],"prefix":"10.12688","volume":"7","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4249-8137","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anna","family":"Connolly","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4845-869X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anne","family":"Matthews","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"2560","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref-1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"86-92","DOI":"10.1016\/j.midw.2017.12.018","article-title":"A feasibility study of a multidimensional breastfeeding-support intervention in Ireland.","volume":"58","author":"G Alberdi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Midwifery."},{"key":"ref-2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1112-1122","DOI":"10.1111\/jep.13581","article-title":"Exploring the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among 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status","group":{"name":"current-referee-status","label":"Current Referee Status"}},{"value":"10.21956\/hrbopenres.15184.r39009, Louise Gallagher, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, 07 May 2024, version 1, 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations","URL":"https:\/\/hrbopenresearch.org\/articles\/7-9\/v1#referee-response-39009","order":0,"name":"referee-response-39009","label":"Referee Report","group":{"name":"article-reports","label":"Article Reports"}},{"value":"<b>Anna Connolly<\/b>; \n<i>Posted: 05 Dec 2024<\/i>; We would like to thank the reviewer for their support of our work and constructive feedback on our manuscript.  The manuscript has been amended on page four to clarify that the inclusion criteria for participating in the interviews involved being an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant rather than registered with the ALCI. &nbsp;  Furthermore, the sampling strategy and recruitment process has been amended to provide further clarity on how the participants were sourced for this study.  The sections of the manuscript that referred to unanticipated findings have been rephrased to reduce any suggestions of bias.  The manuscript has also been amended to include SARS-CoV-2 as part of the title for the findings related to vaccination.  In light of the comments in relation to the overreach of the statement in line 2 of the discussion section given the small sample size, the manuscript has been amended to clarify that \u2018some mothers have inadequate breastfeeding support in hospitals with little or no access to lactation consultants. Finally, the typos on page 5 and the inconsistencies in relation to the authors initials throughout the manuscript have been corrected.  Thank you again for your comments, feedback and support of this research.","URL":"https:\/\/hrbopenresearch.org\/articles\/7-9\/v2#referee-comment-3697","order":1,"name":"referee-comment-3697","label":"Referee Comment","group":{"name":"article-reports","label":"Article Reports"}},{"value":"10.21956\/hrbopenres.15421.r44208, Jane Francis, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, 23 Jan 2025, version 2, indexed","URL":"https:\/\/hrbopenresearch.org\/articles\/7-9\/v2#referee-response-44208","order":2,"name":"referee-response-44208","label":"Referee Report","group":{"name":"article-reports","label":"Article Reports"}},{"value":"The author(s) declared that no grants were involved in supporting this work","order":3,"name":"grant-information","label":"Grant Information"},{"value":"This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.","order":0,"name":"copyright-info","label":"Copyright"}]}}