ABSTRACT
The problems mother face during breastfeeding may lend to early weaning. The period after discharging from hospital is critical, since woman not always find support and orientation to successfully overcome this phase. The purpose of this descriptive, exploratory study was to identify the difficulties mothers have to face during breastfeeding, after discharging from hospital and to guide them, by means of telephone calls. 64 women who gave birth at a private hospital were interviewed in September and October 2003. The results showed that mothers had a good level of education, 65% had finished the secondary school and 30% higher education. A the moment of the telephone call, which occurred in the 8th and 9th day after birth, 95% were exclusively breastfeeding and 92% did not mention any difficulties. However, 61% of theses women presented fissure between the 3rd and 4th day and 23%continnued having this problem. Breast engorgement mentioned by 19% of the breast-feeding women, occurred between the 4th and 5th day. It was concluded that the telephone approach helped some mothers to immediately overcome problems while others were referred to nursing consultation as the hospital. These difficulties could be overcome more efficiently if contacts occurred earlier.
Os problemas que a mãe enfrenta durante a amamentação podem levar ao desmame precoce. O período pós-alta hospitalar é crítico, apoio e orientação podem ajudar a superar esta etapa. O objetivo deste estudo quantitativo, exploratório descritivo foi identificar, via telefônica, as dificuldades de mães na amamentação, após a alta hospitalar e orientá-las. Foram entrevistadas 64 puérperas, de setembro a outubro de 2003. No momento do contato telefônico, que ocorreu no 8º e 9º dias pós-parto, 95% das mães amamentavam seus filhos exclusivamente com leite materno, 92% não referiram dificuldades para aleitar, 61% apresentaram fissura entre 3º e o 4º dia e 23% continuavam com o problema. Das mães entrevistadas, 19% referiram ingurgitamento mamário entre o 4º e o 5º dias, após o parto. Concluiu-se que a abordagem telefônica mostrou-se uma alternativa viável no suporte às mães, para resolver problemas no domicílio. Entretanto, a superação das dificuldades poderia ter sido mais eficaz se o contato ocorresse mais precocemente.