Objective: The purpose of this research is to ascertain the associations among mothers’ experiences expressing breast milk, attitudes toward infant feeding, and their perceptions of social support.
Methods: From September to November of 2022, the cross-sectional study was conducted in an Istanbul city hospital. The study included 455 women in the postpartum period. “Introductory Information Form, Breast Milk Expression Experience Measure,” “Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale,” and “Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support” were used to gather data.
Results: This study showed that the breast milk expression experiences of mothers were mostly negative. Mothers’ breast milk expression experiences, infant feeding attitudes, and perceived social support levels were affected by some maternal characteristics, such as income status (P < .05). A positive correlation was found between the total Breast Milk Expression Experience Measure score and the total Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale score (P < .01).
Conclusion: The importance of the breast milk expression experience in infant feeding was revealed, and it is seen that providing social support to mothers about breastfeeding increases their attitude toward feeding the baby breast milk.
Cite this article as: Tandoğan Ö, Dişli Oktar B, Dişli Çetinçay D, Mecdi Kaydırak M, Gülen Sabancılar G. The relationship mothers’ breast milk expression experiences, infant feeding attitudes, and perceived social support in the postpartum period. Arch Health Sci Res. 2024;11(3):185-190.