Breastfeeding in working women and students in the Faculty of Health Sciences

Introduction: Breastfeeding is one of the most beneficial practices for the newborn, as it contains all the nutrients the child needs for optimal development. Objective: To determine the experiences lived during the breastfeeding period in women who work and study at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Technical University of Ambato. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological approach was carried out from September 2024 to February 2025. Ten breastfeeding women were interviewed through semi-structured interviews, analyzed by thematic coding with double coding, methodological triangulation, and validation with participants. Results: The participants' experiences reflected a complex reality in which they had to adopt strategies such as expressing and storing milk, using manual or electric pumps, and organizing their time with family support. The most frequent barriers were the lack of adequate spaces, ignorance of rights, academic and work overload, and economic limitations. However, positive aspects were highlighted, such as the strengthening of the mother-child bond and occasional support from some teachers and employers. Conclusions: The practice of breastfeeding is based on mothers' personal commitment to strengthening their emotional bond with their children, which allowed them to cope with environmental limitations. These experiences highlight the need for more inclusive institutional policies that promote a balance between motherhood and work or school in order to promote maternal and child health.