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The little things: perceptions of breastfeeding support
1University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Nursing, San Antonio 78229-7951, USA. gills@uthscsa.edu
Objective:
To describe how maternal-child staff nurses support breastfeeding mothers during the postpartum hospital stay and how these mothers perceive the support received from the nurses.
Design:
Ethnographic.
Setting:
Data were collected at a community hospital in southeastern Florida.
Participants:
Unstructured interviews were conducted with seven maternal-child nurses caring for breastfeeding mothers. The investigator observed 12 nurses' interactions with breastfeeding mothers and newborns. Eight breastfeeding mothers were interviewed, using a semistructured guide, in the hospital before discharge and at 2 and 6 weeks postpartum.
Results:
Nurses supported breastfeeding mothers by providing information and interpersonal support. Breastfeeding mothers expected the nurses to support their feeding efforts by providing information, encouragement, and interpersonal support.
Conclusion:
Health care providers can help breastfeeding mothers, but the support offered must be the kind that mothers want.