A friend of mine from Sweden sent me this - she has translated it into
English for me but says it was originally published in Swedish. She gave me
permission to share it with the list, as I thought it was quite interesting:


Nina Gunnarsson is a student of behavioural science who recently published a
study in Swedish on mothers who practice extended breastfeeding. When asked
about her work Nina told Amningsnytt, the Swedish breastfeeding magazine,
that "it is odd that no one in the academic world has reacted to why the
relatively short breastfeeding period of six to twelve months continues to
be norm despite the fact that so much has happened with breastfeeding
duration during the nineties".

Her study is called "Being a mother - an empirical study of extended
breastfeeding". She defined extended breastfeeding to be of children over
two years for two reasons. One is that WHO recommends breastfeeding until
the child is two years old. The other is that children over two are often
perceived differently - by that age many children are speaking and take an
active part in breastfeeding.
She used grounded theory in her study, a method she feels is well suited for
studies on phenomenon that has previously not been studied. With the help of
statements from a group of women who practised extended breastfeeding she
tried to explain the phenomenon in itself.

She found that the one thing these women had in common was being a mother,
and split the two groups into two types of mothers: the ambivalent mothers
and the intuitive mothers. She points out in her study that the mothers
could be very well exhibit a different way in other areas apart from
breastfeeding, and that her definition only applied to the extended
breastfeeding.

The ambivalent mothers had mixed feelings about breastfeeding an older
child. None of them had intended to do so, instead they explained it as a
result of them being unable to stop. The ambivalent mothers felt that
breastfeeding could make a child too dependent of its mother and clingy.
They were therefore restrictive with their breastfeeding and often did not
let the children decide. The breastfeeding situation was perceived as an
opportunity to discipline and "raise" the child. The child's interest in
breastfeeding was seen as a question of 'will' and not 'need'. There was
also an awareness from the mothers sida about the exclusion of the father
and this was seen as something negative.
The social structure around the women was perceived as against extended
breastfeeding. Breastfeeding was was often carried out in secret, for
example only in the home. The mothers worried that others would perceive
them as having a problem of "letting go" of their children. These
restrictions on the mother, and the restrictions on the child, led to both
being hindered in their process towards independence, with the child being
clingy and demanding and the mother being restricted and unfree.

The intuitive mothers had an intention to breastfeed for a long time. Using
different words to explain their motives, they had in common a view that
breastfeeding was a need. The word 'natural' was often used. The
breastfeeding situation was not seen as a situation the mother decided over,
it was a question of being available to the child so that the child could
freely breastfeed whenever. They believed that this created a secure base
from which the child could explore the world and return. This secure base
gave rise to independent children. All of the intuitive mothers interviewed
had were at odds with mainstream culture in one or more areas besides
breastfeeding. They did not care what the social structure thought about
extended breastfeeding, though many admitted that they had on times
breastfed in certain places, as a form of protest. Though they could see
that extended breastfeeding could exclude the father, they saw that as less
important than the child's needs.

All of the ambivalent mothers interviewed were first time mothers, wereas
all but one of the intuitive mothers had two or more children.

Nina Gunnarsson concluded that it is important to be aware that not only is
extended breastfeeding questioned by society it can also be questioned by
the mothers themselves.
This may seem odd, until one thinks about the enormous pressure these
mothers are under. To exhibit a behaviour that others have strong feelings
about, can be very difficult, even if you feel it is best for your child. In
such cases it helps to have strong opinions, but not all mothers have these.
Breastfeeding support organisations can do much by finding and supporting
those who wish to breastfeed a long time but do not dare and those who are
breastfeeding older children but have doubts, are restrictive and may end up
weaning before the mother and child are ready.

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