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Lactation Benefits, Experiences, And Education In Bereaved Mothers: A Literature Review, Grace Davis

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

Background: Parents who lose an infant through miscarriage, elective termination, or stillbirth experience perinatal bereavement (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). A bereaved mother’s grief could be influenced by lactation as most will still experience lactation regardless of their loss. Generally, these women are solely taught to suppress their milk production, oftentimes resulting in discomfort, leakage, clogged ducts, and even mastitis (Carroll et al., 2020). To prevent adverse effects, bereaved mothers need a comprehensive list of options and education regarding lactation including donation, expression, and suppression. Bereaved mothers' lactation experiences, education, and benefits are vital areas to be …