Breastfeeding: When Emotions Flow and Not Everything is Happiness

Abstract

Objective: To explore the relationship between emotions, perceptions of well-being and psychological distress, and breastfeeding practices. Methods: A qualitative study with a phenomenological approach was conducted. Fifty-five women over 18 years of age who were breastfeeding and receiving support from programs in Bogotá, Colombia, participated. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted, each using a question guide based on previously identified categories. Data were analyzed using the constant comparisons model proposed by Glaser and Strauss and narrative analysis, which allowed for the identification of individual and collective aspects, as well as the interactions between women's experiences and social and cultural contexts. Results: The emotions associated with breastfeeding were fear, sadness, guilt, and happiness. Some of the women's coping strategies included talking to their close circle, allowing their bodies time to recover, and persisting in practices that support breastfeeding. Family support and the fulfillment of the expectation of exclusive breastfeeding generated well-being, while fatigue, irritability, and stress produced discomfort among the participants. Conclusion: Women prioritize their children's needs over their own, with breastfeeding being one of those needs, impacting their mental health and complicating the experience. The importance of providing equal support to the mother-child dyad and addressing their needs without discrimination is highlighted.