Interrupted breast-feeding: the experience of women-mothers

Objective: to analyze the perception of women who had precociously weaned the children on the experience of the breastfeeding. Methodology: this is about a research from qualitative approach, performed in a Baby Friendly Hospital, in Recife city, Pernambuco, and had as participants nine mothers who were with their six-months-old babies. Data had been collected through half-structuralized interview and after, we analyzed them according to the techniques of thematic analysis. This study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Agamenon Magalhães Hospital in Recife city (protocol number 149/05). Results: the analysis of subjects disclosed that women, although knowing and repeating the speech technician concerning to breastfeeding, do not suckle the children until the sixth month of life. All, at first, told causes that let them free of the decision to wean. The analysis also emphasized women re-interpret the meanings of breastfeeding through the influence of third, this influence may be positive or negative in the course of lactation. Breast-feeding showed for these women as an experience that awakes ambivalent feelings, pleasant and at times and stressfull at others. Conclusion: while being a health professional, we need to relearn to hear the mothers and to promote the breastfeeding on the basis of reality of each woman, understanding that the practical of suckling the baby is also determined by the representations of the society where she is inserted. Descriptors: breastfeeding; weaning; maternal and child health. RESUMOObjetivos: analisar a percepção de mulheres, que desmamaram os filhos precocemente sobre a vivência da amamentação. Metodologia: pesquisa com abordagem qualitativa, realizada em um Hospital Amigo da Criança, em Recife, Pernambuco, tendo como sujeitos nove mães de bebês na faixa etária de zero até seis meses. Os dados foram coletados pela técnica de entrevista com roteiro semi-estruturado. Após a transcrição das entrevistas, estas foram analisadas segundo a técnica de ...