The effect of individualized breastfeeding counseling given during cesarean births on breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding success and postpartum depression

This study was carried out to determine the effects of individualized breastfeeding counseling on breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding success, and postpartum depression. This was a controlled interventional study. The sample of the study consisted of pregnant women who presented to the Obstetrics Outpatient Clinics of Balıkesir University Healthcare Practice and Research Hospital (intervention=36, control=36). In the antenatal period, the participants in the intervention group were given individual breastfeeding education and a breastfeeding booklet, while those in the control group were given only the breastfeeding booklet. In the postpartum period, the participants in the intervention group were given breastfeeding counseling face-to-face within the first 24 hours and over the phone on days 14 and 41. Breastfeeding success was evaluated within 24 hours after delivery, and the posttest data were collected on the 41st day. The participants in the control group were interviewed face-to-face within the first 24 hours, no intervention was applied, their breastfeeding success was evaluated, and the posttest data were collected over the phone on the 41st postpartum day. A Participant Information Form, the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form-Antenatal Version, the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form-Postnatal Version, the LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and a Postnatal Information Form were used to collect data. There were significant differences between the intervention and control groups in terms of their duration of exclusive breastfeeding and levels of breastfeeding self-efficacy (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of their breastfeeding success or postpartum depression levels (p>0.05).