Amamentação, rede de apoio às puérperas e uso de chupeta em recém-nascidos

Abstract

The support network for postpartum women is essential for their physical and emotional well-being, and the offer of a pacifier to the newborn may be related to the desire to soothe the baby and provide maternal rest. This study aims to investigate, through a research instrument, the factors related to breastfeeding, the support network for postpartum women, and pacifier use in newborns. The sample was of convenience and consisted of postpartum women who sought care at the Multidisciplinary Breastfeeding and Lingual Frenulum Evaluation Clinic for Babies at the Dental Hospital (FOUFU) and the Human Milk Bank (EBSERH-UFU). The research instrument was a questionnaire developed based on a literature review and structured into relevant topics. After being analyzed by ten specialists in pediatric dentistry, the final version included 30 questions covering family data, nutritive sucking, support network, and pacifier use. After developing the research instrument, obtaining approval from the Research Ethics Committee, and securing informed consent from the participants, the printed questionnaire was distributed to postpartum women before or after their consultations. The data were analyzed descriptively, and the main results found were that among the 74 participants, 63.5% of the babies were exclusively breastfed, and 74.3% of the mothers reported difficulties with breastfeeding. Regarding the support network, 94.6% of the mothers received assistance, with the main supporters being their partner (79.7%) and the maternal grandmother (40.5%). Additionally, 87.8% reported satisfaction with this support. Concerning pacifier use, 33.8% of the babies used a pacifier, while 55.4% did not. It can be concluded that most newborns were exclusively breastfed and that the majority of postpartum women faced some difficulties with breastfeeding. The primary support network reported by the mothers consisted of their partner and the maternal grandmother, and most babies did not use a pacifier. For newborns who did use a pacifier, the mother and partner were the main individuals offering it. The primary reasons for offering the pacifier were to soothe the baby and because the support network provided it to the newborn.