Breastfeeding--a gradual return to mother's autonomy

The aim of this study, the final in a series, was to assess mothers' perceptions of some aspects of midwifery care in relation to breastfeeding. These included conflicting advice and its possible effect on breastfeeding outcomes; whether information considered crucial to the maintenance of breastfeeding was provided by health professionals; and whether mother's autonomy was encouraged following the implementation of antenatal breastfeeding workshops. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 550 women who delivered in 1994 approximately one year after the birth of their child. The results obtained were compared to those achieved in a 1991 survey of a similar population. Of the 247 respondents, 33.5% considered they had received conflicting advice, with 18.6% commenting they felt this had negatively influenced how successfully they had breastfed. Three quarters of the women surveyed indicated they received information on the factors considered crucial for the maintenance of lactation. Seventy-eight percent (78%) said they usually or always attached the baby for themselves. Fifty-three percent (53%) of the mothers breastfed for more than six months, and 37.7% were still breastfeeding at 12 months.