Social Support Experiences of Women with 6-monthExclusive Breastfeeding

• Main Authors: WANG, YI-WEN, 王怡文
• Other Authors: KUO, SU-CHEN
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/67053055120341766988

碩士 === 國立臺北護理健康大學 === 護理助產研究所 === 101 === The aim of this study is to explore the social support experience of women who breastfed for more than 6 months to reflect the social environment of breastfeeding and acquire suggestions for supportive breastfeeding practices. An oral history methodology was conducted on adult women with exclusive breastfeeding experience for more than six months within one year after the childbirth. The participants were recruited from online breastfeeding community using snowball sampling. The verbatim texts of the face-to face interview sound recording were collected and analyzed to investigate the social support experience during breastfeeding and its impact. The results showed that: a) Fragmentary cognition and unsure attitude toward breastfeeding during pregnancy, lack of birth support and inexpectancy of childbirth pain led to fatigue and stress in breastfeeding women. b) Women learned about exclusive breastfeeding in baby-friendly environment during hospitalization after childbirth and received tangible support and companion from their family. Support and encouragement provided by the nursing staff were most appreciated but improper medical intervention could be troublesome. c) The one-month postpartum period of confinement was the key for women to establish stable exclusive breastfeeding pattern including adjustment of marriage relationship and sex life, build-up of mutual understanding and tolerance with their husbands as well as acquirement of information, suggestions and comments from their families and social network. d) Women who continued exclusive breastfeeding sensed the improvement of breastfeeding environment in their workplace. However there were still limitations in the existing policy and public facilities for breastfeeding. The recommendation provided by hospitals and the government was not fully adequate and there was a lack of related consultation service. e) Social support could help the exclusive breastfeeding women develop new interpersonal relationship to make better use of their time and space. Breastfeeding has become an easier way for women to supply nutritional needs for babies without confronting so many barriers as before. The findings of this study can provide reference for baby-friendly nursing care, health education as well as nursing and midwifery research to promote continuous improvement of breastfeeding quality and refine the social welfare and health policy.