• Mothers feel
more capable and confident about breastfeeding when they perceive their partner is supportive by way of
verbal encouragement and active involvement in breastfeeding activities (Mannion et al, 2013).
If the mother gave a string of
verbal encouragements without ≥ 5 s between each statement, the episode was counted as a single
verbal encouragement; and 3)
verbal offers, defined as simply making a
verbal food offer (eg, «Do you want
more food?»).