Maternal perceptions of successful breastfeeding

Abstract

Twenty-six mothers were interviewed concerning successful and unsuccessful breastfeeding. Constant comparative analysis yielded five major categories of successful breastfeeding: infant health, infant satisfaction, maternal enjoyment, desired maternal role attainment, and lifestyle compatibility. A core concept, working in harmony, emerged as a unifying theme. Mothers described successful breastfeeding as a complex interactive process resulting in mutual satisfaction of maternal and infant needs. This concept broadens definitions of successful breastfeeding often used by health professionals, which emphasize breastfeeding duration and nutritional aspects.