Women's Experiences of Breastfeeding During COVID-19 in Turkey: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine breastfeeding women's feelings, thoughts, and experiences during COVID-19. Methods: This qualitative research was conducted in a research hospital in Central Anatolia, Turkey. The study focused on women who had given birth in the postpartum clinic, and it involved in-depth interviews with 42 participants on their first day of maternity. The interviews were recorded using a tape recorder. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Four main themes and 12 subthemes were developed, namely: fear (catching the disease, not being able to breastfeed, infecting the baby), strain (loneliness, lack of social support, feeling sad and inadequate), lack of knowledge (social isolation, compliance with hygiene rules, taking action), and requirement (need for information, expectation of help, increasing mother support). Conclusions: Women may be vulnerable postpartum due to restrictions on access to social support systems and isolation.