The little things: perceptions of breastfeeding support

Abstract

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.