Characterizing women in the pregnancy-puerperal cycle and encouraging early breastfeeding

Abstract

Objectives: To develop socioeconomic, gynecological and obstetric profiles of the women, and to identify their early contact with their newborns.Methods: In this quantitative, descriptive, longitudinal study, 51 women were interviewed between November 2013 and June 2014 at a public maternity hospital in southern Brazil.The study was approved by the research ethics committee.Results: Mean age 26.2 years, married/stable union (80.39%), over 8 years’ schooling (60.78%), family income 1 to 3 minimum wages (66.67%), exclusively housewives (80.39%), primigravidas (52.94%), no prior abortion (92.15%), had attended more than 6 appointments (100%), and received no guidance on breastfeeding (54.90%).Conclusion: Most of the puerperas who underwent cesarean section had no skin-to-skin contact in the delivery room, with the opposite occurring in cases of normal birth.