Breastfeeding in premature infants: mothers’ knowledge, feelings and experiences

Abstract

Introduction: A Lactation with premature must be studied looking for a better understanding of the lived situation by the binominal mother-baby and, in this way, outline strategies to face all difficulties that may compromise maternal infantile nursing. Objectives: Analyze knowledge, feelings and premature baby mother´s experience relating to lactation. Methods: Interviews with twenty mothers of preterm infants who were hospitalized for a period in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were performed. Results: With reference to mothers´ knowledge relating to lactation, results show benefits with this practice but almost of them were limited to benefits involving only infant’s health. In relation to mothers feelings, it was observed that feelings considered as positive happened with higher frequency. In relation to the lactation experience in the neonatal intensive care unit, results showed positive expectation in relation to the maternity performance, although there are reports which express anguish, fear and difficulties. Lactation at home happened with more peace, although weight gain continues to be a goal to achieve. Conclusion: Results of this study show that although premature mothers express wish to do lactation, this process is permeated by difficulties happening during the work process at hospital unit as well as her back home. Thus, health care professionals, including speech therapists should make efforts to support mothers to success in the process of breastfeeding preterm infants.