Milk-sharing experiences: Perspective among Malaysian donors and recipient mothers
Dublin Core
Title
Milk-sharing experiences: Perspective among Malaysian donors and recipient mothers
Subject
altruism; Asia; breastfeeding; human milk; social media
Description
Background: Shared breastmilk has been a longstanding tradition in many
cultures throughout history through wet nursing, cross nursing, and the
donation of expressed breastmilk to a milk bank. However, social media
has introduced some new dynamics to this practice, making it more visible
and accessible; and it is known as milk-sharing. Research on milk sharing
is still in its infancy and focused on western perspectives. Therefore, the
sociocultural dimensions of milk sharing have not been adequately explored
across different settings and cultures.
Purpose: This qualitative study aims at understanding the milk-sharing
experiences among donor and recipient mothers in Malaysia.
Methods: We conducted a social media analysis on milk-sharing postings
from four Facebook Groups Pages. This was followed by a detailed
exploration of individual experiences throughout the milk-sharing journey
using a semi-structured, online interview with thirty mothers. Thematic
analysis was applied in the data analysis process using ATLAS.ti 9 software.
Results: A total of 252 postings were retrieved from four Facebook Groups
Pages. Of these, 151 postings referred to donating milk, 70 referred to
requesting milk, and 31 focused on issues related to milk-sharing. Thirty
mothers with various milk-sharing experiences were involved in this study.
Fifteen donors, six recipients, and nine fell into both categories. The mothers
in the study had an average age of 32.9 years and the majority were Malay.
In terms of their relationship with the infants, 93.3% were biological mothers
with the majority having two to five children. Thematic analysis identified four
themes: 1) point of reference, 2) altruism for mutual benefit, 3) faith and 4 )
challenges and problem-solving methods.
Conclusion: Milk sharing is a personal and sociocultural-bounded practice
where mothers negotiate their understanding of the need to breastfeed and
the use of donated breastmilk. Despite its specific focus on the Malaysian
context, this research offers a complementary understanding of milk sharing
within a non-Western framework and transferable to similar sociocultural
backgrounds. The findings are important for intercultural nursing and
midwifery practice, where nurses can incorporate sociocultural perspectives
into breastmilk donation initiatives to increase public acceptance.
cultures throughout history through wet nursing, cross nursing, and the
donation of expressed breastmilk to a milk bank. However, social media
has introduced some new dynamics to this practice, making it more visible
and accessible; and it is known as milk-sharing. Research on milk sharing
is still in its infancy and focused on western perspectives. Therefore, the
sociocultural dimensions of milk sharing have not been adequately explored
across different settings and cultures.
Purpose: This qualitative study aims at understanding the milk-sharing
experiences among donor and recipient mothers in Malaysia.
Methods: We conducted a social media analysis on milk-sharing postings
from four Facebook Groups Pages. This was followed by a detailed
exploration of individual experiences throughout the milk-sharing journey
using a semi-structured, online interview with thirty mothers. Thematic
analysis was applied in the data analysis process using ATLAS.ti 9 software.
Results: A total of 252 postings were retrieved from four Facebook Groups
Pages. Of these, 151 postings referred to donating milk, 70 referred to
requesting milk, and 31 focused on issues related to milk-sharing. Thirty
mothers with various milk-sharing experiences were involved in this study.
Fifteen donors, six recipients, and nine fell into both categories. The mothers
in the study had an average age of 32.9 years and the majority were Malay.
In terms of their relationship with the infants, 93.3% were biological mothers
with the majority having two to five children. Thematic analysis identified four
themes: 1) point of reference, 2) altruism for mutual benefit, 3) faith and 4 )
challenges and problem-solving methods.
Conclusion: Milk sharing is a personal and sociocultural-bounded practice
where mothers negotiate their understanding of the need to breastfeed and
the use of donated breastmilk. Despite its specific focus on the Malaysian
context, this research offers a complementary understanding of milk sharing
within a non-Western framework and transferable to similar sociocultural
backgrounds. The findings are important for intercultural nursing and
midwifery practice, where nurses can incorporate sociocultural perspectives
into breastmilk donation initiatives to increase public acceptance.
Creator
Lee Khuan1 , Nurul Akma Jamil1,3* , Cheong Ai Theng22 , Siti Mariam
Muda3
Muda3
Source
http://jkp.fkep.unpad.ac.id/index.
php/jkp
php/jkp
Date
April 25, 2025
Contributor
peri irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Lee Khuan1 , Nurul Akma Jamil1,3* , Cheong Ai Theng22 , Siti Mariam
Muda3, “Milk-sharing experiences: Perspective among Malaysian donors and recipient mothers,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed February 12, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/10775.