Abstract

Background: Complications of breastfeeding occured mostly due to improper breastfeeding tecniques and poor education of mothers. These are reversible and can be prevented with proper education of mothers and medical personnel. Objective: This research aimed to examine, through anonymous questionnaires, breastfeeding complications in the maternity unit, but also later during breastfeeding in the area covered by the district nurses of the Zagreb-West Health Center. Methods: Out of 200 mothers participated and the research was conducted from January 2020 until May 2021. Results: Most of the pregnant women were beetwen 31-40 years old. 67.2% of them had vaginal birth. Most common complications during breastfeeding were engorged breasts (33.6%) while the rarest were mental disorders (3.1%) and nipple vasospasm (1.6%). Mothers used different kinds of solutions for these complications: silicone nipple shields, correction of position and proper breast grip, warm and cold compresses, breast pumping, massage and stimulation of breasts. As many as 46.9% of respondents had difficulties breastfeeding in the maternity unit, and the majority were primiparas (62.0%). Conclusion: Complications of breastfeeding are more common with first-time mothers then with mothers who gave birth to multiple children. Primary solution for prevention, recognition of complications on time and managing complications is a continuous education of mothers and sensitization of overall public about advantages of breastfeeding.

Key words: breastfeeding, complications associated with breastfeeding, number of born children.