OBJECTIVES: increase the understanding on how women who have weaned their children before the fourth month of life view breast-feeding and care received during the pregnancy and puerperal cycle. METHODS: the theory of Social Representation was used as a theoretical and methodological reference. In the whole 24 women were interviewed through a semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed based on a content analysis method. RESULTS: statements analysis of the respondents determined the gap between the standing of the institution favoring exclusive breast-feeding until the sixth month of life and the experience of women related to breast-feeding which established the impossibility of following such recommendation in the face of real life conditions. CONCLUSIONS: results revealed the need of an urgent reformulation of healthcare actions concerning the issue with the objective of considering not only biologic factors but social and cultural conditions involving breastfeeding as well.
Breast feeding; Weaning; Pregnancy