SUCCESSFUL BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS' EXPERIENCES OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING

Introduction: Identifying the problems and the difficulties which are experienced by successful breastfeeding mothers can help healthcare systems develop strategies for promoting mothers' breastfeeding practice. Aim: This study was conducted to explore successful breastfeeding mothers' experiences of the difficulties associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Methods: This qualitative conventional content analysis study was conducted in 2014. A purposeful sample of sixteen mothers who had a baby of less than one year old and had been successful in exclusive breastfeeding was recruited. Study participants were selected from healthcare centers affiliated to Golestan and Mazandaran Universities of Medical Sciences, Golestan and Mazandaran, Iran. Unstructured interview method was employed for data gathering. Sampling and data collection were continued until reaching data saturation. Study data were analyzed by using the constant comparison analysis. Findings: Our participants' experiences of the difficulties associated with exclusive breastfeeding came into four main themes including nighttime wakefulness, physical and psychological distress, feeling deprived of pleasures, and breastfeeding-related concerns. Despite experiencing these problems and difficulties, our participants had continued their exclusive breastfeeding for six months and had assigned greater priority to their babies' health over their own health and preferences. Conclusion: Mothers usually experience many difficulties and endure great hardship throughout exclusive breastfeeding. Nonetheless, most of them receive little, if any, support from healthcare providers and instead, cope with the difficulties of exclusive breastfeeding by relying on their own personal capabilities.