The little things: perceptions of breastfeeding support.

OBJECTIVE: To describe how maternal-child staff nurses support breastfeeding mothers during the postpartum hospital stay and how these mothers perceive the support received from the nurses. DESIGN: Ethnographic. SETTING: Data were collected at a community hospital in southeastern Florida. PARTICIPANTS: Unstructured interviews were conducted with seven maternal-child nurses caring for breastfeeding mothers. The investigator observed 12 nurses' interactions with breastfeeding mothers and newborns. Eight breastfeeding mothers were interviewed, using a semistructured guide, in the hospital before discharge and at 2 and 6 weeks postpartum. RESULTS: Nurses supported breastfeeding mothers by providing information and interpersonal support. Breastfeeding mothers expected the nurses to support their feeding efforts by providing information, encouragement, and interpersonal support. CONCLUSION: Health care providers can help breastfeeding mothers, but the support offered must be the kind that mothers want.