[The role of knowledge about breast-feeding and infant nutrition in selecting the method of feeding]

Attitudes and believes towards primipara breast-feeding in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters were examined with a questionnaire survey in 91 cases. The questionnaire included 60 true and false statements about breast-feeding which were placed on a 5-grade Likert scale by the respondents based on to what extent they agreed with the particular statement. Significant differences could be detected in the evaluation of statements between women who stopped breast-feeding before the 6th month and those who did not, according to the appraisal of the next items: 1. If a baby is breast-fed too long it will find it difficult later to detach from its mother and will be less independent. 2. The same kind of relationship can be created with the baby during feeding it from a feeding bottle as during breast-feeding. 3. The baby has to be prevented from falling asleep during breast-feeding and has to be made active again with gentle pinches. 4. If the baby falls asleep during breast-feeding, it will suckle poorly. 5. The baby can be easily made give up crying at night, if it does not get used to being taken into its mother's arms. 6. The father is excluded from the intimate relationship formed during breast-feeding. The correction of these false beliefs can extend the time of breast-feeding.