title: A concept analysis of effective breastfeeding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a concept analysis of effective breastfeeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medline and CINAHL electronic databases, reference lists from selected articles, and 7 breastfeeding assessment tools. Search terms included the following: breastfeeding and effective, adequate, successful.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature was selected according to whether the concept of effective breastfeeding was defined or described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature was reviewed and data organized as definitions or descriptions, with descriptions grouped into categories sharing similar characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four characteristics were chosen as essential attributes of effective breastfeeding: positioning, latch, sucking, and milk transfer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The concept of effective breastfeeding requires further concept development to define and describe effective positioning, latch, sucking, and milk transfer. Future research is needed to determine the relationships between the antecedents, attributes, and consequences of effective breastfeeding.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 53201-0143, USA. pjmulder@uwm.edu
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Mulder
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing; D008895:Milk, Human; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D013391:Sucking Behavior