Research papers
This section contains links to my research over the years. Organised by topic, it includes research into pregnancy and birth, breastfeeding, starting solids, mental health and parenting. Lots of papers are published with my former MSc and PhD students so be sure to check out their pages on social media too and follow what they are up to.
I hope this section is useful for looking at research on these topics (particularly for students looking to learn more), but for more detailed discussion head on over to the blogs section where I explore what the research means and how it fits into the bigger picture.
More papers to follow soon!
Breastfeeding Research
Influences on breastfeeding duration
Breastfeeding difficulties and postnatal depression
Breastfeeding difficulties and postnatal depression
Interviews with health professionals and mothers as their perceived influences on breastfeeding duration
Breastfeeding difficulties and postnatal depression
Breastfeeding difficulties and postnatal depression
Breastfeeding difficulties and postnatal depression
Research exploring link between duration of breastfeeding, reasons for stopping and postnatal depression.
Birth complications and breastfeeding
Breastfeeding difficulties and postnatal depression
Birth complications and breastfeeding
Research exploring the link between different complications and interventions during birth and breastfeeding initiation and continuation
Personality and breastfeeding
Fathers' experiences of supporting breastfeeding
Birth complications and breastfeeding
The link between personality, confidence, social support and breastfeeding experience
Fathers' experiences of supporting breastfeeding
Fathers' experiences of supporting breastfeeding
Fathers' experiences of supporting breastfeeding
Interviews with fathers whose partner had breastfed into their needs, challenges and ideas for further support
Breastfeeding and appetite
Fathers' experiences of supporting breastfeeding
Fathers' experiences of supporting breastfeeding
Research that found that breastfed babies were rated as better able to control their appetite as toddlers
What do women want from breastfeeding education?
What do women want from breastfeeding education?
What do women want from breastfeeding education?
Exploring women's perceptions of breastfeeding education and promotion
Breastfeeding and responsive care
What do women want from breastfeeding education?
What do women want from breastfeeding education?
The Importance of a responsive parenting approach for breastfeeding success
Infant sleep, milk feeding and food
What do women want from breastfeeding education?
Women's experiences of breastfeeding older babies
Research that found no relationship between milk feeding, amount of solid foods eaten and how often babies aged 6 - 12 months woke up at night
Women's experiences of breastfeeding older babies
Women's experiences of breastfeeding older babies
Women's experiences of breastfeeding older babies
A qualitative study exploring experiences, barriers and enablers to breastfeeding older babies and children
Experiences of online breastfeeding support
Women's experiences of breastfeeding older babies
Experiences of online breastfeeding support
Women's experiences of breastfeeding support in online groups - benefits and barriers
Breastfeeding and deprivation
Women's experiences of breastfeeding older babies
Experiences of online breastfeeding support
A quantitative paper linking the deprivation index of an area to breastfeeding duration
Breastfeeding and feeding style
Availability of breastfeeding peer support in the UK
Women's experiences of exclusive breastfeeding
The importance of a responsive feeding style for breastfeeding continuation
Women's experiences of exclusive breastfeeding
Availability of breastfeeding peer support in the UK
Women's experiences of exclusive breastfeeding
A qualitative study exploring women's experiences of exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months
Availability of breastfeeding peer support in the UK
Availability of breastfeeding peer support in the UK
Feasibility and acceptability of Mam-Kind breastfeeding peer support trial
A study examining peer support provision in the UK
Feasibility and acceptability of Mam-Kind breastfeeding peer support trial
What do women lose if they are prevented from meeting their breastfeeding goals
Feasibility and acceptability of Mam-Kind breastfeeding peer support trial
Feasibility and acceptability of motivational interviewing for breastfeeding peer support
Pilot of Mam-Kind breastfeeding peer support trial
What do women lose if they are prevented from meeting their breastfeeding goals
What do women lose if they are prevented from meeting their breastfeeding goals
Pilot of motivational interviewing trial for breastfeeding peer support
What do women lose if they are prevented from meeting their breastfeeding goals
What do women lose if they are prevented from meeting their breastfeeding goals
What do women lose if they are prevented from meeting their breastfeeding goals
A position piece exploring the importance of breastfeeding experience to women who want to breastfeed
Third stage of labour and breastfeeding complications
Third stage of labour and breastfeeding complications
Third stage of labour and breastfeeding complications
A quantitative paper linking third stage labour management to breastfeeding complications - active third stage (no injection) linked to fewer complications
Factors influencing breastmilk supply
Third stage of labour and breastfeeding complications
Third stage of labour and breastfeeding complications
A review paper for NCT Perspectives magazine exploring influences on feeding experiences and how these can affect milk supply
Breast is best but not in my backyard
Third stage of labour and breastfeeding complications
Breast is best but not in my backyard
A review paper exploring the issue of attitudes towards breastfeeding in public
Baby-led weaning research
Baby-led weaning: the evidence to date
Mothers experiences of following a baby-led weaning approach
Mothers experiences of following a baby-led weaning approach
A review paper exploring the research around baby-led weaning: what it is, why parents choose it and the impact it might have
Mothers experiences of following a baby-led weaning approach
Mothers experiences of following a baby-led weaning approach
Mothers experiences of following a baby-led weaning approach
A qualitative study exploring why mothers chose to follow a baby-led weaning approach
A descriptive study of baby-led weaning
Mothers experiences of following a baby-led weaning approach
Differences in dietary intake between spoon feeding and baby led weaning
Our very first study back in 2010 exploring baby-led weaning as a method of introducing solid foods
Differences in dietary intake between spoon feeding and baby led weaning
Differences in dietary intake between spoon feeding and baby led weaning
Differences in dietary intake between spoon feeding and baby led weaning
This paper explored what foods babies were offered when they were spoon-fed or baby-led weaned. Baby-led babies were offered more vegetables and protein rich foods.
Weaning & milk feeding approach and weight
Differences in dietary intake between spoon feeding and baby led weaning
Weaning & milk feeding approach and weight
This study weighed and measured babies aged 6 - 12 months and found that babies who were spoon-fed and bottle fed were heavier than babies who self fed / breastfed, self fed / bottle-fed or spoon-fed / breastfed.
Baby-led weaning and weight
Differences in dietary intake between spoon feeding and baby led weaning
Weaning & milk feeding approach and weight
This study compared parent reported weight and eating behaviours of toddlers who had followed a baby-led or spoon-fed approach. It found baby-led babies were less likely to be overweight.
Feeding style during weaning - responsive feeding
No difference in choking rate for babies following baby-led or spoon fed approaches
No difference in choking rate for babies following baby-led or spoon fed approaches
This paper explores differences in feeding style between parents using a baby-led or spoon feeding approach, showing that baby-led weaning is associated with a more responsive feeding style
No difference in choking rate for babies following baby-led or spoon fed approaches
No difference in choking rate for babies following baby-led or spoon fed approaches
No difference in choking rate for babies following baby-led or spoon fed approaches
This paper explores reported choking incidences amongst babies following baby-led or spoon fed approaches. It shows no difference in choking between the groups
A round table summary paper exploring baby-led weaning
No difference in choking rate for babies following baby-led or spoon fed approaches
A round table summary paper exploring baby-led weaning
A discussion paper between five academics about baby led weaning - myself, Gill Rapley, Charlotte Wright , Sonya Cameron and Renate Forste