<b>Support and preparation of adolescent mothers for breastfeeding</b> - doi: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v10i3.17362

Abstract

This is a descriptive exploratory study of qualitative nature, with the objective of investigating the influence of information on breastfeeding practices on the teenage mothers. During pregnancy and childbirth family support is vital because the adolescent mother faces difficulties especially through breastfeeding period. The informants were 14 teenagers who became mothers between July 2009 and February 2010 and continued to live with their parents. Data was collected between April and May 2010, through interviews at home, fully transcribed and subjected to content analysis. From the results, the following categories emerged: Difficult to maintain exclusive breastfeeding, Absence of family support and encouragement for breastfeeding and lack of instruction on breastfeeding during prenatal care. We concluded that the family exerts fundamental role in support and encouragement for the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of a child's life. This care should begin even in pre-natal and reach not only a teenager, but the family group as well.