[Breastfeeding from the perspective of programmatic vulnerability and care]

Based on experiences and reflections reported by health professionals, the aim of this study was to critically analyze the actions, situations, and decisions in healthcare services that involve breastfeeding, examining aspects that favor or limit its possibilities. This was a qualitative study based on the conceptual framework of vulnerability and healthcare, using focus groups with 25 healthcare professionals participating in the Committee on Breastfeeding in Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil. The material was produced with a comprehensive format, focusing on questions that involved the breastfeeding process and its approaches and decisions. The study raises issues for understanding how the way mothers and families deal with breastfeeding is linked to organization of the practices and individual and social aspects, requiring integration between practical and technical/scientific knowledge. The article portrays the complexity of healthcare for women and children, allowing an enhanced approach to routine healthcare and the related strategies for breastfeeding.