Effect of breastfeeding and delivery method of mothers wi̇th 1-8 months-old babies on maternal attachment

This study has been conducted for identifying the effect of lactation and delivery method of mothers with 1-8 months-old babies on maternal attachment. The universe of this study that is in cross-sectional type was 1050 mothers having applied for Şırnak State Hospital between 01/08/2017-31/09/2017. Minimum sampling size has been designated as 110 mothers identified with power analysis; however, the study has been conducted by face to face interviews with 252 literate mothers with 1-8 months-old baby, volunteer to participate in the study by meeting the research criteria. Introductory Properties Form and "Maternal Attachment Scale" have been used in data collection. Data has been analyzed by using SPSS 23.0 program. Given the introductory properties and maternal attachment level of mothers, maternal attachment levels of those whose relationships with their own mothers (97.3±6.0) and fathers (97.4±5.9) are good, those who are familiar with baby care previously (97.5±6.0), those stating not to get tired while looking after her baby (97.3±6.3), those feeling that their independence is restricted after birth (97.5±6.1), those believing that her baby is a calm baby (97.9±5.3) have been found out to be significantly high (p<0.05). A significant difference has been found out between delivery method (normal/ cesarean) and baby feeding (mother's milk/formula/mother's milk/formula mixture) and maternal attachment level (p<0.05). Given the findings obtained from our study data, that mothers maintain good relations with their own mothers and fathers, they are familiar with baby care, they do not get tired while looking after their baby and believe that their independence is not restricted after birth and they define their babies as calm have positively affected mother-baby attachment. Key Words: Breastfeeding, Delivery Method, Nursing, Maternal Attachmen