Investigation of the relationship between breastfeeding myths and breastfeeding adaptation: a correlational survey study

The early postpartum period is a critical time frame in which mothers’ adaptation to breastfeeding is shaped and breastfeeding-related beliefs become evident. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the level of belief in breastfeeding myths and breastfeeding adaptation among breastfeeding mothers in the early postpartum period. This correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2024 and June 2025. The study data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, the Breastfeeding Myths Scale, and the Breastfeeding Adaptation Scale. The sample of the study consisted of 181 mothers who agreed to participate in the research, had infants aged 2–4 weeks, and were breastfeeding their babies. Descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis were used for data analysis, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In the study, it was determined that mothers’ levels of belief in breastfeeding myths were low, while their breastfeeding adaptation levels were high. A statistically significant difference was found between breastfeeding myths scores and women’s employment status and the place where they had lived for the longest period ( p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found in total Breastfeeding Myths Scale scores according to prenatal breastfeeding education status (p = 0.002), whereas no statistically significant difference was observed in total Breastfeeding Adaptation Scale scores (p = 0.092). Mothers who received prenatal breastfeeding education were found to have significantly higher scores in the “Infant’s Feeding Capacity and Growth” sub-dimension of the Breastfeeding Adaptation Scale ( p = 0.018). According to the results of the study, although breastfeeding myths are still prevalent in the early postpartum period, mothers'breastfeeding adaptation levels were found to be high. Mothers who received prenatal breastfeeding education had higher Breastfeeding Myths Scale scores, whereas no statistically significant difference was observed in total Breastfeeding Adaptation Scale scores between mothers who received prenatal breastfeeding education and those who did not. These findings indicate that breastfeeding counseling should be conducted with a holistic approach that takes cultural context into account and targets erroneous beliefs.