Association of Parenting Stresses, Maternal Role Adjustment, and Types of Feeding during Hospital Stays at Birth to Breastfeeding Adaptation

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was to explore association of maternal role adjustments, parenting stresses, and demographic factors to breastfeeding adaptation. METHODS: A correlational survey design was used to recruit 183 mothers who breastfeed or breastfed their babies. Participants' visited outpatient departments and were admitted to pediatric ward at 2 hospitals in metropolitan city of Korea. Inclusion criteria for subjects were mothers whose babies were from 1 month to 24 months old. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire for mothers' and babies' demographic variables, maternal role adjustments, parenting stresses, and maternal breastfeeding adaptations. RESULTS: Higher levels of maternal adaptations and low levels of parenting stresses were associated with greater maternal breastfeeding adaptations. Types of feeding during hospital stays and baby's health status at birth were also associated with maternal breastfeeding adaptation. CONCLUSION: Results showed that a higher level of mothers' adjustment to breastfeeding; indicated lesser parenting stresses with higher levels of maternal adaptation. Nursing interventions for breastfeeding should be applied for appropriate breastfeeding adaptation during mothers' hospital stay. As baby's poor health status at birth medical team should provide a proper breastfeeding education.