Hello Lactnet members,

I am a Master's student in Health Geography in Ontario. I am embarking on 
research that explores the role of family in infant feeding decision making. 
Specifically, I'm looking at how female family members (such as grandmothers, 
sisters, aunts, etc) can influence the decision to breast or bottle feed; 
whether women act upon family advice; and whether family supports or 
contradicts popular discourse on "good mothering". My research this summer 
will be qualitative in nature and will consist of in-depth interviews and focus 
group discussions with 35 local first time mothers. 

It is my belief that if we truly want to see breastfeeding rates increase, we 
need to go beyond educating and "supporting" the mother and father, and 
branch out into education and support of breastfeeding families. Families could 
offer a much stronger support in the first (potentially more difficult) months, 
when critical feeding decisions are often made. 

This research stems out of my own heart-breaking breastfeeding experiences, 
and how my family had no idea how to support me in that difficult period.  
Breastfeeding was an abstract notion to them.  I had no embodied knowledge 
of breastfeeding; all the knowledge about the various benefits to 
breastfeeding that I gained was through theoretical or medically-oriented 
text.  Breastfeeding was unnatural to me. I hope that this research will help to 
change this reality which exists for many women. 

If anyone on this list would like to offer thoughts or suggestions, I'd welcome 
emails to [log in to unmask]  Additionally, if you would like to share any 
particularly interesting research papers or reports, I'm all ears (or eyes?).  

Thanks for reading,

Brianne Curry

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