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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Developing midwifery students' skills to support families during complementary feeding through experiential training and community listening
1
University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Midwifery, Milan, Italy
2
Independent researcher, Independent researcher, Independent researcher, Italy
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A274
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Complementary feeding is a crucial developmental phase that shapes long-term health and dietary habits. Promoting knowledge of food seasonality, reducing food waste, and supporting informed parental choices are essential to establishing sustainable, health-promoting practices. In an environment saturated with conflicting, often non-professional information, families seek accurate and personalized guidance. Responsive feeding—based on recognising a child’s hunger and satiety cues—is endorsed by health authorities as an effective approach. Midwives play a key educational role in guiding families throughout the perinatal period with relational and scientific competencies.
OBJECTIVES:
To strengthen midwifery students’ ability to support families during complementary feeding through a structured, practice-based educational intervention.
METHODS:
The project includes theoretical lessons, experiential labs, an intensive residential training, and field engagement. A listening phase with families will be conducted through online focus groups to tailor educational content. Preliminary findings are based on a similar educational project (PEACC), with a different thematic focus, conducted with 23 second- and third-year midwifery students from Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. Participation was voluntary and required completion of preparatory training, consultation of educational resources, and full attendance at a residential training held from 24 to 27 October 2024. A focus group explored students’ experiences and perceptions.
RESULTS:
Qualitative analysis identified four themes: the midwife’s role in nutrition education, students’ perception of their training, sustainability in food choices, and the value of family engagement. Students reported greater awareness of food systems and recognised the midwife's potential in nutrition education.
CONCLUSIONS:
Experiential learning enhances students’ competencies in supporting families during complementary feeding with a sustainable, informed approach.
KEY MESSAGE:
Integrated, practice-based training empowers midwifery students to promote healthy, sustainable feeding practices and provide effective family support. Postpartum - miscellaneous
Complementary feeding is a crucial developmental phase that shapes long-term health and dietary habits. Promoting knowledge of food seasonality, reducing food waste, and supporting informed parental choices are essential to establishing sustainable, health-promoting practices. In an environment saturated with conflicting, often non-professional information, families seek accurate and personalized guidance. Responsive feeding—based on recognising a child’s hunger and satiety cues—is endorsed by health authorities as an effective approach. Midwives play a key educational role in guiding families throughout the perinatal period with relational and scientific competencies.
OBJECTIVES:
To strengthen midwifery students’ ability to support families during complementary feeding through a structured, practice-based educational intervention.
METHODS:
The project includes theoretical lessons, experiential labs, an intensive residential training, and field engagement. A listening phase with families will be conducted through online focus groups to tailor educational content. Preliminary findings are based on a similar educational project (PEACC), with a different thematic focus, conducted with 23 second- and third-year midwifery students from Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. Participation was voluntary and required completion of preparatory training, consultation of educational resources, and full attendance at a residential training held from 24 to 27 October 2024. A focus group explored students’ experiences and perceptions.
RESULTS:
Qualitative analysis identified four themes: the midwife’s role in nutrition education, students’ perception of their training, sustainability in food choices, and the value of family engagement. Students reported greater awareness of food systems and recognised the midwife's potential in nutrition education.
CONCLUSIONS:
Experiential learning enhances students’ competencies in supporting families during complementary feeding with a sustainable, informed approach.
KEY MESSAGE:
Integrated, practice-based training empowers midwifery students to promote healthy, sustainable feeding practices and provide effective family support. Postpartum - miscellaneous
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
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