This document summarizes a literature review on the everyday information experiences of breastfeeding mothers. The review found that breastfeeding mothers use both formal and informal information sources, with informal sources like friends and family seen as more valuable. Information gathering occurs in phases as mothers have new experiences before and after giving birth. Areas identified for further exploration include examining the role of embodied experiences as information sources and how public libraries could better support breastfeeding mothers' information needs.

1. The everyday information experiences of
breastfeeding mothers
Dr Konstantina Martzoukou
Teaching Excellence Fellow
k.martzoukou@rgu.ac.uk
Hayley Lockerbie
Research Assistant
h.lockerbie@rgu.ac.uk
School of Creative & Cultural Business
Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen, Scotland)

2. Hayley Lockerbie
• Research assistant @ RGU (for now! About to become a network
librarian for local authority)
• A mother of twins – where the inspiration for this research came
Volunteer breastfeeding peer
supporter for NHS Grampian
who believes strongly in
informed decision making

3. Background
The World Health Organisation (2017)
Babies are fed breastmilk exclusively for
the first 6 months and as part of their diet
for their first two years.
However:
• breastfeeding rates in low, middle and
high-income countries are low (Victora
et al 2016)
• social attitudes a major barrier
(Boseley, 2017)
Initial Questions
• How do breastfeeding mothers learn about breastfeeding?
• What information sources (formal, informal) do they use?
• When does this happen (pre and antenatal period), how and what barriers do they
experience?
• How can breastfeeding mothers be further supported to learn about breastfeeding and
make informed decision-making?
http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/exclusive_breastfeeding/en/

4. Everyday life information literacy
Aim: To examine everyday life health information literacy (IL)
experiences and practices of breastfeeding mothers.
MARTZOUKOU, K. & SAYYAD, E. 2017. Towards an everyday
life information literacy mind-set: a review of literature.
Journal of Documentation, 73(4), pp.634-665
…encompasses a critical
approach that empowers
individuals to constantly adjust
themselves confidently and
proactively to new and different
information
environments…embedded
within the changing context and
as influential agents in
changing it.
It is an on-going activity of
knowledge construction,
knowledge deconstruction
and knowledge extension
within converging contexts
that are influential upon
each other…it is an
ongoing process
throughout a person’s life.

5. MARTZOUKOU, K. & SAYYAD, E. 2017. Towards an everyday
life information literacy mind-set: a review of literature.
Journal of Documentation, 73(4), pp.634-665

6. Methodology – Literature Review
Information
Studies
databases
library literature and
information science
LISTA
Emerald
Web of Science
“breastfeeding”
495
Healthcare
databases
CINHAL
Intermid
Internurse
Science Direct
Cochrane Library
“breastfeeding AND information”
1243 30
??
?
- 1738 papers identified
- 69 papers relevant to LIS
- 30 papers focussing on
aspects of IL
- Excluded book reviews

7. What does the literature say?
Information sources
Friends, family, healthcare
practitioners (Szqajcer et al,
2005)
Blended information
sources are effective (Hauck
and Dimmock, 1994; Jones
et al 2009; Kjelland et al
2014; Abbas-Dick 2015;
Dalzell and Martindale
2011; Susin et al 1999)
Formal/informal
information
Informal more valuable
to women than formal
(Devolin et al 2013,
Gallegos et al 2011)
Embodied
experiences
Information gathering
happens in phases
(antenatal and postnatal)
as new experiences and
events happen (Sheehan
et al 2013)
Information Overload
Myriad of websites – how
do women navigate this?
(Ekstrom 2011)
Knowledge
Construction

8. What does the literature say?
Online environments
& mobile technology
Social media used
frequently (Bylaska-
Davies, 2015) especially
by the “information
poor” (Hasler et al, 2014)
Mobile tech enables
access (Garcia-Gomez et
al, 2014) – especially
getting the right
information at the right
time (Gallegos et al,
2011)
Conflicting &
outdated advice
Misinformation from
friends, family (Szqajcer
et al 2005) or
healthcare
practitioners (Monalto
et al 2010)
“bad information”
passed on through
social interactions
(Loudon et al 2016)
Knowledge
Deconstruction
Loss of Trust
Especially in
information from
healthcare
practitioners
(Gallegos et al 2011,
MacVicar et al 2015)
Need to further
explore: embodied
experiences
The experience (post
birth) can cause a
mother to question
information acquired
antenatally

9. What does the literature say?
Expectations vs
reality
Lack of realism in
information available
to mothers (JBI, 2012;
Graffy and Taylor,
2005; Sheehan et al,
2013)
Media
Problematic content and
portrayal of breastfeeding
(Bylaska-Davies, 2015)
Knowledge
Extension
Embodied
experiences
embodied information
experiencing
breastfeeding, demands
and any problems

10. Areas for further exploration
• Exploring need for earlier education and
exposure to breastfeeding (normalising it?)
• Individual women’s informational experiences
(what information they have been exposed to
and in what stage – pregnancy and birth, post-
birth? How has this influenced them?)
• Embodied experiences as information sources.
Uncover good examples of this and justification
for these becoming legitimate source of
information – sharing stories
• Public libraries sign- poster in the community
– groups putting them in touch – library as a
safe space (third place) for comfortable
breastfeeding.

11. References (1)
Abbass-Dick, J., Stern, S.B., Nelson, L.E., Watson, W. and Dennis, C.L., 2015. Coparenting breastfeeding support and
exclusive breastfeeding: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics, 135(1), pp.102-110.
Bylaska-Davies, P., 2015. Exploring the Effect of Mass Media on Perceptions of Infant Feeding. Health care for women
international, 36(9), pp.1056-1070.
Dalzell, J. and Martindale, L., 2011. The promotion of breastfeeding. Independent Nurse.
Devolin, M., Phelps, D., Duhaney, T., Benzies, K., Hildebrandt, C., Rikhy, S. and Churchill, J., 2013. Information and Support
Needs among Parents of Young Children in a Region of Canada: A Cross‐Sectional Survey. Public Health Nursing, 30(3),
pp.193-201.
Ekström, A., 2011. Long term effects of professional breastfeeding support-an intervention. International Journal of
Nursing and Midwifery, 3(8), pp.109-117.
Gallegos, D., Russell-Bennett, R. and Previte, J., 2011. An innovative approach to reducing risks associated with infant
feeding: the use of technology. Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing, 23(4), pp.327-347.
García-Gómez, J.M., de la Torre-Díez, I., Vicente, J., Robles, M., López-Coronado, M. and Rodrigues, J.J., 2014. Analysis of
mobile health applications for a broad spectrum of consumers: a user experience approach. Health informatics journal,
20(1), pp.74-84.
Graffy, J. and Taylor, J., 2005. What information, advice, and support do women want with breastfeeding?. Birth, 32(3),
pp.179-186.
Hasler, L., Ruthven, I. and Buchanan, S., 2014. Using internet groups in situations of information poverty: topics and
information needs. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 65(1), pp.25-36.

12. References (2)
Hauck, Y.L. and Dimmock, J.E., 1994. Evaluation of an information booklet on breastfeeding duration: a clinical trial. Journal
of advanced nursing, 20(5), pp.836-843.
Joanna Briggs Institute, 2012. Best Practice Information Sheet: Women's perceptions and experiences of breastfeeding
support. Nursing & health sciences, 14(1), p.133.
Jones, E., Emmett, C. and Spencer, S., 2009. An evaluation of preterm breastfeeding information and support. Infant, 5(4),
p.116.
Kjelland, K., Corley, D., Slusher, I., Moe, K. and Brockopp, D., 2014. The best for baby card: An evaluation of factors that
influence women’s decisions to breastfeed. Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews, 14(1), pp.23-27.
Loudon, K., Buchanan, S. and Ruthven, I., 2016. The everyday life information seeking behaviours of first-time mothers.
Journal of Documentation, 72(1), pp.24-46.MacVicar et al 2015
Montalto, S.A., Borg, H., Buttigieg-Said, M. and Clemmer, E.J., 2010. Incorrect advice: the most significant negative
determinant on breast feeding in Malta. Midwifery, 26(1), pp.e6-e13.
Sheehan, A., Schmied, V. and Barclay, L., 2013. Exploring the process of women’s infant feeding decisions in the early
postbirth period. Qualitative Health Research, 23(7), pp.989-998.
Susin, L.R., Giugliani, E.R., Kummer, S.C., Maciel, M., Simon, C. and Da Silveira, L.C., 1999. Does parental breastfeeding
knowledge increase breastfeeding rates?. Birth, 26(3), pp.149-156.
Szwajcer, E.M., Hiddink, G.J., Koelen, M.A. and Van Woerkum, C.M.J., 2005. Nutrition-related information-seeking
behaviours before and throughout the course of pregnancy: consequences for nutrition communication. European Journal
of Clinical Nutrition, 59, pp.S57-S65.