The meaning of breastfeeding in prison

Abstract

Objective: to understand the meanings of the breastfeeding experience attributed by incarcerated women. Method: this is a qualitative research, developed based on the principles of comparative data analysis, adopting open and axial coding, and Symbolic Interactionism as a theoretical reference. Data collection was performed through in-depth interviews with 27 mothers and three pregnant women in six penitentiaries in the State of São Paulo, which comprised of three sample groups. Results: the data analysis resulted in three themes: Seeking remission through motherhood, where breastfeeding is inserted as an element to promote the bond between mother and child and in the promotion of maternal well-being, but is inserted in a context of social conflicts and losses; Experiencing daily attachment and the expectation of separation, which reflects the possibility of breaking the mother and child relationship with the end of the child’s stay in the prison environment; Recognizing that there were losses, but that they were worth it, reveals the mother’s assessment of her decision to keep the child with her in prison. Conclusion: Breastfeeding is one of the basic care activities that incarcerated women can offer their children, it is also an encouraging experience that fosters child and maternal well-being which she experiences in a context of ruptures, conflicts and preoccupations with her personal losses and the penal condition.