First time mothers' views of breastfeeding support from nurses.
OBJECTIVE
To gain insights into the perceptions of first-time mothers regarding nurses' support of breastfeeding.


METHODS
Phenomenology.


METHODS
Audiotaped interviews were conducted with 20 primiparous breastfeeding mothers within the first month after giving birth vaginally to healthy term infants. Data analysis was concurrent with data collection, and trustworthiness of the data was established.


RESULTS
Nurses provided emotional, informational, and tangible support. Nonsupportive behaviors were also identified, including a sense that the nurse was in a hurry, failed to offer breastfeeding assistance, and was inflexible while working with the mother and infant.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses can contribute significantly to the successful initiation of and continuation of breastfeeding, and provide new mothers with the confidence and reassurance critical for breastfeeding success.
Hong
Terumi Matsuura
TM
Brigham Young Universit College of Nursing, Provo, UT 84602-5544, USA. Lynn_Caallister@byu.edu
Callister
Lynn Clark
LC
Schwartz
Rosanne
R
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010298:Parity; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors