Presentation Information
[aQrq5kgV-05]Fathers’ experiences of supporting human milk feeding for preterm infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units with parent–infant separation in China: a qualitative descriptive study
*Wenjie Guo1, Li Wang2, Haiyan Zhang3, Sanmei Chen1, Maggie Zgambo4, Yan Wu5, Yanmei Bu6, Man Qi5, Ling Yang5, Yoko Shimpuku1 (1. Global Health Nursing, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University (Japan), 2. Department of Nursing, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Jiaozuo (China), 3. Department of Medical Records Management, The Second People’s Hospital of Jiaozuo (China), 4. School of Nursing and Midwifery,Edith Cowan University (Australia), 5. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Jiaozuo (China), 6. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, The Second People’s Hospital of Jiaozuo (China))
Keywords:
father,human milk feeding,neonatal intensive care unit,preterm infant
Aims
Fathers play an important role in Human milk feeding during preterm infants’ hospitalization. However, research on fathers’ experiences in supporting breastfeeding remains limited. This study aimed to explore fathers’ experiences and needs in supporting their partners’ human milk feeding for preterm infants during Neonatal Intensive Care Units hospitalization in China.
Methods
This study employed a qualitative descriptive design. Using maximum variation and purposive sampling, 19 fathers of preterm infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units were recruited. Between August and September 2025, semi-structured interviews were conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units of two tertiary public hospitals in Jiaozuo, China. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Boards of the Second People's Hospital (Ref: KY2024-03-130) and the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Jiaozuo City (Ref: 2024-K-Y-0408).
Results
Three main themes and seven subthemes were generated. The three main themes were: (1) Different paternal roles in human milk feeding support; (2) Navigating multilevel challenges in supporting human milk feeding; (3) A call for family-centered human milk feeding support.
Conclusions
Fathers of preterm infants in separation-based NICUs assumed differentiated roles in human milk feeding support, shaped by their role perceptions and caregiving contexts. Their experiences revealed substantial caregiving burdens and multilevel challenges, including knowledge and skill gaps as well as institutional barriers. Systematically integrating fathers into neonatal feeding support through family-centered care, continuous professional lactation guidance, and assessment of paternal role types may enable tailored interventions, strengthen paternal engagement, and optimize human milk feeding practices.
Fathers play an important role in Human milk feeding during preterm infants’ hospitalization. However, research on fathers’ experiences in supporting breastfeeding remains limited. This study aimed to explore fathers’ experiences and needs in supporting their partners’ human milk feeding for preterm infants during Neonatal Intensive Care Units hospitalization in China.
Methods
This study employed a qualitative descriptive design. Using maximum variation and purposive sampling, 19 fathers of preterm infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units were recruited. Between August and September 2025, semi-structured interviews were conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units of two tertiary public hospitals in Jiaozuo, China. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Boards of the Second People's Hospital (Ref: KY2024-03-130) and the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Jiaozuo City (Ref: 2024-K-Y-0408).
Results
Three main themes and seven subthemes were generated. The three main themes were: (1) Different paternal roles in human milk feeding support; (2) Navigating multilevel challenges in supporting human milk feeding; (3) A call for family-centered human milk feeding support.
Conclusions
Fathers of preterm infants in separation-based NICUs assumed differentiated roles in human milk feeding support, shaped by their role perceptions and caregiving contexts. Their experiences revealed substantial caregiving burdens and multilevel challenges, including knowledge and skill gaps as well as institutional barriers. Systematically integrating fathers into neonatal feeding support through family-centered care, continuous professional lactation guidance, and assessment of paternal role types may enable tailored interventions, strengthen paternal engagement, and optimize human milk feeding practices.
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