WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO BREAST-FEEDING SUCCESS AFTER CHILDBIRTH IN A MATERNITY WARD IN FINLAND

Background: The study objective was to gain information about factors that contribute to the successful establishment of breastfeeding in fi rst-time mothers while they are still in the maternity hospital. The s tudy was part of a wider longitudinal project that examined the develo pment of first-time mothers into motherhood during eight months after the birth. Methods: Data were collected by a questionnaire distributed between January and May 1995. The sample comprised 326 first-time mot hers, who completed the questionnaires on about the fifth day after ch ildbirth. A polychotomic logistic regression analysis was applied. Res ults: Mothers who had a positive experience of breastfeeding in the ma ternity ward and who began lactating 2 to 3 days postpartum coped bett er with breastfeeding than those whose experience was less positive an d who lactated later: Moreover the greater the emotional (affect) and concrete (aid) support received by the mother from members of her supp ort network, the better she coped with breastfeeding. By contrast, tho se mothers who were upset while in the maternity ward coped less well with breastfeeding. Conclusions: Establishing successful breastfeeding in first-time mothers requires the professional guidance and support of the maternity staff and paying attention to the person closest to t he new mother who in this study was the spouse or father of the child.