Difficulties in breastfeeding during the postpartum periodABSTRACT
Purpose To characterize the breastfeeding difficulties faced by users of a Breastfeeding Clinic, in the different postpartum periods.
Methods Observational, cross-sectional study with secondary data, analyzing the medical records of all puerperal women (n=269) from August 2019 to July 2022. The study first defined the response variable as the postpartum period and then as the existence of breastfeeding complaints. Descriptive analyses and univariate and multivariate logistic regression of the data were performed.
Results In the immediate postpartum period, mothers presented more breastfeeding complaints, breast problems, and breastfeeding pain. In the late postpartum period, there was no difference regarding greater or lesser difficulty. In the remote postpartum period, a greater proportion of mothers reported that their children had difficulty gaining weight. The variables associated with the mother were: no breastfeeding complaints, normal delivery, breastfeeding in the first hour of life, healthy breasts and breast tissue, exclusive breastfeeding, adequate latch, mother’s and child’s adequate positioning, among others. Breastfeeding complaints were statistically significantly associated with abnormal appearance of the breasts, not having breastfed in the first hour of life, incorrect latch, having had difficulty in managing/adjusting the positioning, and needing to return to the health center.
Conclusion Puerperal women treated at the Breastfeeding Clinic presented more breastfeeding difficulties in the immediate postpartum period, reporting complaints, breast problems, and pain.
Keywords:
Breastfeeding; Weaning; Primary health care; Postpartum period; Human milk