Grupo virtual de apoio ao aleitamento materno

Abstract

The importance and benefits of breast milk for the mother-child binomial are recognized worldwide. However, there are difficulties in the breastfeeding process that can culminate in the interruption. In this scenario, health education and the establishment of support networks can mitigate such problems and promote breastfeeding. The present study aimed to propose a health education program on breastfeeding for a virtual group of lactating women. It is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with lactating women with the WhatsApp application at a university hospital in Minas Gerais. Through a group on WhatsApp lasting six months, breastfeeding mothers will be guided on breastfeeding and will have online consultations. A virtual group was created on WhatsApp, called the Virtual Breastfeeding Support Group (GAAMO), and a health education manual for breastfeeding women was created, called the Practical Manual for Breastfeeding. The manual comprises the themes, namely: Advantages of Breastfeeding; Do not use a bottle, pacifier or nipple; Positioning and handle; End of feeding; Manual milking; Exclusive breastfeeding; Breastfeeding problems; Myths related to breastfeeding. A script was also created for sociodemographic and obstetric characterization and a form on Google Forms to evaluate women's experience with the GAAMO group. The creation of the virtual group is a way of establishing support networks for women, and the manual is an educational tool to promote breastfeeding. The group's implementation had not yet been completed until the writing of the present work was completed.