| Abstract |
INTRODUCTION: Breastfeeding constitutes the normal and natural nutrition for the infant after birth. The introduction of breast milk substitutes - fully developed in the middle of 20th century- and their advertisement on well, resulted in a decline of the number of breast-fed infants. Breastfeeding is a learning process for mothers and infants, consequently many difficulties may arise, which could lead to an early interruption.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to explore the experience from breastfeeding, in a sample of mothers living in the municipality of Megalopolis (Arcadia), in order to determine the motivating factors, the problems and the people who helped them. These determinants may be used in a quantitative survey, searching for the factors positively correlated with a long duration of breastfeeding.
METHODS: The study is a qualitative survey. The questionnaire used for the interviews was created based on other ones found in similar studies from the literature, and in addition, it was enriched by elements that came out during several informal conversations with women who had breast-fed their infants. The sample consisted of mothers who had breast-fed for the first time. The interviews were tape recorded, and a verbatim transcription was then performed, followed by a thematic content analysis.
RESULTS: This study investigated the experience of women who breast-fed for the first time. The sample consisted of nine women. From the women’s answers, data were collected concerning the decision to start the breastfeeding, the experience and the sentiments, the difficulties and the people who helped them. The majority of the women took the decision to breastfeed in the beginning of the pregnancy, considering the benefits of breast milk as o motive. First, the exhaustion and second the infant’s difficulty to latch the nipple were the major barriers indicated by the women of the sample. The maternity hospital’s personnel certainly supported the women, but not as persistently as they expected. Finally, the husband was the person who offered the most important help.
CONCLUSIONS: Even though the most appropriate nutrition for the infant is breastfeeding, it is a demanding process for the mother and may have several difficulties. The breastfeeding woman needs support from her family and from the health care professionals. Most women are misprepared since the information provided to them focuses mainly on the benefits of the breastfeeding, and not the difficulties and on the ways to confront the barriers
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Ανίχνευση πιθανών προβλημάτων που προκύπτουν κατά το μητρικό θηλασμό : Μία ποιοτική μελέτη με συνεντεύξεις
