EARLY BREASTFEEDING PROBLEMS AND EXPERIENCE AMONG PRIMI LACTATING MOTHER AT SELECTED PHC. A MIXED METHOD STUDY

Abstract

The length of hospitalization following birth has been markedly reduced and today new mothers are expected to establish breastfeeding at home with less support from health care professionals. Breastfeeding has been documented to benefit the health of both mother and infant and 97% of Danish mothers initiate breastfeeding after birth. Still breastfeeding rates are low with only 68% of mothers exclusively breastfeeding their infant two months postpartum . A possible reason could be difficulties getting started. Studies show that up to 92% of all new mothers experience a variation of breastfeeding problems. Initiating breastfeeding has been identified as a vulnerable period. New mothers are vulnerable, when adjusting to motherhood and they may be insecure when adapting to breastfeeding their infant . If breastfeeding is not well established during the first week, the Infant may be at risk of significant weight loss, hypernatraemic dehydration and readmission at the hospital again. Even though breastfeeding problems are a well-known phenomenon early postnatally, and mothers’ may experience more than one problem, sparse is known about what mothers’ themselves experience as their most challenging breastfeeding problem. In Denmark readmission rates due to nutritional problems among new born have increased in the last 10 years , demonstrating that some mothers still experience problems when establishing breastfeeding. Ensuring to provide new mothers with optimal support in this crucial period of early breastfeeding, this study aims to investigate mothers’ experiences of their most challenging breastfeeding problem, the extent of the problems and possible factors associated with early breastfeeding problems.