Iran Journal of Nursing

  This study was conducted to investigate factors hindering the flow of breast milk, thus interfering with breast feeding during six weeks post delivery in women attending the health units associated with Iran medical university in Tehran (1993)

  A total of 240 mothers were selected of whom 180 nursed their babies exclusively and 60 of them were giving addional helping formula.

  Based on the five objective statements of the study a questionnaire was developed containing items on personal and socioeconomic characteristics physical and psychological factors of mother and also fev items about that might have had a negative effect on the flow of milk and disrupted regular breast feeding.

  The findings are presented in 22 tables, descriptive and inferal statistics were employed to analyze data.

  The result revealed that the majority of women in both groups (case and control) were 20-24 years old while minority had above the age of 35 years.

  Most of them had nursed only one of their children previously. The educational level of both groups was elementary, some were illiterate, and mostly were house-wives.

  A greater number stated that they had attended prenatal care clinics during pregnancy and delivered in a hospital setting.

  The mean stay time in hospital for both groups was one day.

  The statistical procedures revealed differences in physical factors among the case and control group, but the flow of milk was not affected by those factors presented in the study group. It is assumed that the mothers who had delivered baby in friendly initiative hospitals had been given adequate information than they didn’t suffer from any physical problems.

  In investigating the psychological factors, variables like decision to nurse the baby made while still pregnant, personal interest encouragement received from the partner, the satisfying feelings breast feeding provided to the mother contributed to the flow of milk. On the other hand mother^,s perception of her milk to be insufficient, anxiety and post delivery depression, not having a proper plan for nursing the new born, having self satisfaction and pleasant past experience in breast feeding the previous baby. Problems in daily life, not having the quiet place to feed baby and having the quiet and peaceful family life were factors that had reverse effection on the flow of milk. The statistical tests also revealed a significant difference among the two groups (p<5%). The socioeconomic factors were investigated

  As the fourth goal, there were no differences on variables like having the helping hand for managing household the type of her job and income of the family and source of information obtained regarding between the two groups . statistical tests did verify this insignificance as well.

  The fifth purpose investigating baby factors, and it^,s effect on breast feeding, variables like birth weight (low) restless or sleepless, oral congenital defects, digestive tract and metabolic diseases and neonatal jaundice of the newborn had somehow interfered with regular pattern of breast feeding and x² statistical test verified this finding.

  Based on the results of the study discussions in midwifery and nursing education were made emphasizing on family health.