Information and Support Given by Inpatient Nurses, Maternal Factors, and Breastfeeding Success

The importance of breastfeeding has been well documented in the literature. However, it is unclear what impact inpatient nurses have on the success of breastfeeding. A prospective, exploratory design was used to examine the relationship between information and support given by inpatient nurses to breastfeeding success at six weeks postpartum. This study also looked at the different patterns of infant feeding and breastfeeding success, as well as explored what maternal factors predict breastfeeding success at six weeks postpartum. The maternal factors used were based on a review of the literature and organized within the framework of Cox's Interaction Model of Client Behavior. The sample of 230 breastfeeding mothers was recruited from eight hospitals in two Southwestern cities between April and August 2001. Data was collected by survey at the prenatal, two week, and six week postpartum periods. Analysis of the research questions was completed using the Pearson product- moment correlation, simultaneous multiple regression analysis, and the independent t test. There was a significant positive correlation between information and support given by inpatient nurses and breastfeeding success at six weeks postpartum. No differences were found in breastfeeding success for mothers who were considered exclusive breastfeeders or mixed feeders. possessing breastfeeding confidence and having positive social supports for breastfeeding were predictor variables of breastfeeding success in this sample. These findings suggest that inpatient nurses do positively impact breastfeeding success at six weeks postpartum. Nurses can continue to provide the information and support necessary to maintain a new mother's breastfeeding confidence, and support the mother's choice in her pattern of feeding. Nurses can also tailor their interventions to incorporate the mother's social supports, which can further enhance the success of breastfeeding.Air Force Inst of Tech Wright-Patterson AFB OH is the author of 'Information and Support Given by Inpatient Nurses, Maternal Factors, and Breastfeeding Success', published 2002 under ISBN 9781423510109 and ISBN 1423510100.