Aim: To explore and understand breastfeeding experiences and challenges among student mothers who breastfeed during their academic studies and clinical rotations in nursing school.
Background: Breastfeeding is recommended for the nourishment of infants. An increasing number of students combine parenthood and higher education, including student mothers who give birth while pursuing their degrees. Nursing students confront a dual challenge. In addition to the rigorous demands of theoretical academic coursework they must also contend with clinical rotations. There is limited literature regarding the experiences of nursing students who breastfeed during their studies and even more limited literature regarding their experiences during clinical rotations.
Design: A qualitative design using a constructionist framework for thematic analysis.
Methods: Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted between June 2023 and September 2023 and were analyzed using a thematic analysis.
Results: Four themes were identified, which describe the experiences of nursing student mothers during their academic studies and clinical rotations: The importance of breastfeeding for baby's health and emotional connection; Breastfeeding and pumping during academic studies and clinical rotations requires the students to juggle between the various tasks; Dealing with privacy and modesty during breastfeeding in public on campus and in clinical settings; and Attitudes from academic educators, clinical instructors and classmates that foster, support, or impede the integration of breastfeeding during nursing studies.
Conclusions: Creating a supportive atmosphere for breastfeeding students necessitates a comprehensive strategy from academic institutions and hospital nursing administration.
Keywords: Breastfeeding; Clinical rotations; Nursing; Nursing students.
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