Experiences related to breastfeeding and its early interruption: a qualitative study with nursing mothers

• Autor(a) principal: Santos, Sthefane Pires dos
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Souza, Lana Mércia Santiago de, Santana, Jerusa da Mota
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Baiana de Saúde Pública (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://rbsp.sesab.ba.gov.br/index.php/rbsp/article/view/3179
• topic: Aleitamento materno; Pesquisa qualitativa; Nutrição infantil; Lactancia materna; Investigación cualitativa; Nutrición infantil; Breastfeeding; Qualitative research; Child nutrition

Breastfeeding is influenced by several correlated factors, which may favor or disadvantage its maintenance, thus it is necessary to know those factors that lead to such interruption in different contexts. This qualitative, descriptive and analytical study investigates the experience regarding breastfeeding and its early interruption among nursing mothers in a primary healthcare service in Bahia, Brazil. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews with nursing mothers who interrupted early the breastfeeding of their children. In all, 14 nursing mothers, aged between 19 to 40 years, were interviewed. After being recorded, the interviews were transcribed for later content analysis and organization into analytical categories. Among the main reasons for interrupting breastfeeding were the myths of “weak milk,” “little milk,” and “dried-up milk.” Breast complications, the women’s return to the workplace and university, as well as the experiences of nursing mothers during breastfeeding. Hence, it appears that the act of breastfeeding involves a series of factors that need to be addressed, overcoming the idea of ??full breastfeeding and without hindrances, so that, with support, these women can recognize the challenges, but especially the gains of breastfeeding. The act of breastfeeding involves complex issues, awakening in women both positive and negative feelings that become entangled with the choice of maintaining exclusive breastfeeding. Thus, health professionals must understand the social and cultural context in which women are inserted, placing them as protagonists in this process.