Breastfeeding experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain:a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has affected reproductive and perinatal health both through the infection itself and, indirectly, as a consequence of changes in medical care, social policy or social and economic circumstances. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of the pandemic and of the measures adopted on breastfeeding initiation and maintenance. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted by means in-depth semi-structured interviews, until reaching data saturation. The study was conducted between the months of January to May 2021. Participants were recruited by midwives from the Primary Care Centres of the Andalusian provinces provinces of Seville, Cádiz, Huelva, Granada, and Jaén. The interviews were conducted via phone call and were subsequently transcribed and analysed by means of reflexive inductive thematic analysis, using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 30 interviews were conducted. Five main themes and ten subthemes were developed, namely: Information received (access to the information, figure who provided the information), unequal support from the professionals during the pandemic (support to postpartum hospitalization, support received from Primary Health Care during the postpartum period), social and family support about breastfeeding (support groups, family support), impact of confinement and of social restriction measures (positive influence on breastfeeding, influence on bonding with the newborn), emotional effect of the pandemic (insecurity and fear related to contagion by coronavirus, feelings of loneliness). CONCLUSION: The use of online breastfeeding support groups through applications such as WhatsApp®, Facebook® or Instagram® has provided important breastfeeding information and support sources. The main figure identified that has provided formal breastfeeding support during this period was that of the midwife. In addition, the social restrictions inherent to the pandemic have exerted a positive effect for women in bonding and breastfeeding, as a consequence of the increase in the time spent at their homes and in the family nucleus co-living.

Breastfeeding at 1, 3 and 6 Months after Birth According to the Mode of Birth: A Correlation Study.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding is a determinant of child and maternal health. However, evidence is limited on how mode of birth influences breastfeeding. Research aim: To examine the mode of birth and breastfeeding duration and the type of lactation at one, three and six months after birth in XXX, during 2017. METHODS: Correlation study on breastfeeding duration and type of lactation during the six months after birth, and mode of birth, in a randomised sample. Women ≥18 years of age with term singleton infants, were included. Collected data through interviews and hospital records. Pearson's and Spearman's correlation analyses were conducted. SPSSv21 and α = 0.05 were used. RESULTS: Breastfeeding duration was shorter in women with greater parity (-0.055 **) (p < 0.01) and epidural analgesia (0.057 **) (p < 0.01), and longer in mothers with episiotomy (-0.267 **) (p < 0.01). Episiotomy was associated with breastfeeding at one month (0.112 **) (p < 0.01), and at six months (0.347 *) (p < 0.01). The prevalence of breastfeeding was lower in women who received epidural analgesia at three months (-0.140 **) (p < 0.01) and higher at six months (0.013 **) (p < 0.01). The percentages of breastfeeding at three months were significantly greater in women with no perineal tears (2.1) (p < 0.05). At six months, small rates of breastfeeding were found in women with greater parity (0.051 **) (p < 0.01). No significant association was detected, neither between the type of lactation and the mode of birth, nor between breastfeeding duration and the mode of birth. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural analgesia, episiotomy, perineal tears and parity influence the type of lactation and duration of breastfeeding during the six months after birth. The results suggest no association between the type of lactation and the mode of birth or between breastfeeding duration and the mode of birth.