young mothers' infant feeding experiences. This study investigates not just what factors create a culture of formula feeding but also how they interact. This new understanding is now used to inform the discussion of young mothers and breastfeeding, in reference to the lived experience and wider socio-economic influences that play a part in the infant feeding journey. This chapter also develops theoretical models of young women's experiences of motherhood. The first section (7.1) is a development of the analytic framework, discussing in detail how the theory of the self can be used to make sense of the narrative Ricœurdean work the young mothers did in becoming 'good' mothers. This includes the novel concept that infant feeding/health behaviours are situated in the interrelation between the young mothers themselves as individuals, and their lived experience as new mothers. This space between individual and others is both captured and created by the narrative of their own motherhood, what good motherhood is and how each aspect of motherhood affects the whole. Within this, the meanings of infant feeding are created and we can see that breastfeeding is often at odds with the young mothers' narrative selves. The following section (7.2) presents a detailed discussion of the data in relation to the global themes presented in chapters 4-6. This includes suggested models to describe the experience of infant feeding, which aid the understanding of why formula feeding is so prevalent in this group. The product is a reframing of the situation by offering both practical and theoretical concepts of the meaning of infant feeding to young mothers and the dynamic interplay of factors which produces the current status quo; the cultural prevalence of formula feeding. The following section (7.3) is an interpretation of the data in terms of crosscutting themes in the study. These discuss the possible implications of the data to the wider understanding of the lived experience of infant feeding to young mothers in the UK. Section (7.4) discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the research design and the limitations and value of the findings. Finally, the conclusions to the thesis suggest further research and implications for midwifery and other professional
young mothers' infant feeding experiences. This study investigates not just what factors create a culture of formula feeding but also how they interact. This new understanding is now used to inform the discussion of young mothers and breastfeeding, in reference to the lived experience and wider socio-economic influences that play a part in the infant feeding journey. This chapter also develops theoretical models of young women's experiences of motherhood. The first section (7.1) is a development of the analytic framework, discussing in detail how the Ricœurdean theory of the self can be used to make sense of the narrative work the young mothers did in becoming 'good' mothers. This includes the novel concept that infant feeding/health behaviours are situated in the interrelation between the young mothers themselves as individuals, and their lived experience as new mothers. This space between individual and others is both captured and created by the narrative of their own motherhood, what good motherhood is and how each aspect of motherhood affects the whole. Within this, the meanings of infant feeding are created and we can see that breastfeeding is often at odds with the young mothers' narrative selves. The following section (7.2) presents a detailed discussion of the data in relation to the global themes presented in chapters 4-6. This includes suggested models to describe the experience of infant feeding, which aid the understanding of why formula feeding is so prevalent in this group. The product is a reframing of the situation by offering both practical and theoretical concepts of the meaning of infant feeding to young mothers and the dynamic interplay of factors which produces the current status quo; the cultural prevalence of formula feeding. The following section (7.3) is an interpretation of the data in terms of crosscutting themes in the study. These discuss the possible implications of the data to the wider understanding of the lived experience of infant feeding to young mothers in the UK. Section (7.4) discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the research design and the limitations and value of the findings. Finally, the conclusions to the thesis suggest further research and implications for midwifery and other professional