Social Representations of Psychological Aspects in the Puerperium and Their Implications on Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding, planned for two years or more and exclusive for the first six months, ensures an emotional bond between the mother and the fetus, in addition to numerous benefits such as nutrition and protection for the newborn.However, there are biological, psychosocial, and cultural barriers that interfere with this process.For this reason, the Ministry of Health adopts methods to advance care for women in the pregnancy-puerperal cycle, since this period is marked by intense transformations.This study aimed to identify the social representations of the psychological aspects of the puerperium and their implications for breastfeeding.This was a qualitative observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study.The sample consisted of mothers assisted at a teaching maternity hospital in Colatina, state of Espírito Santo.Data were collected through a semi-structured interview form that was fully recorded and later transcribed.The results were treated using semantic analysis of the information and the evocations were extracted, which were elucidated through the openEVOC 0.92 software.Later, the discussion of the social representations obtained based on the central core theory.In this sense, according to the Average Order of Evocation, the central core, the zone with the greatest statistical significance, was marked by the words "love" and "pain".There may be impasses in breastfeeding due to challenges arising from the puerperium and the new changes in the mother's life during this period of intense renunciations and learning.Within this context, the team of health professionals who provide humanized care needs to be attentive and vigilant to the possible implications in the pregnancy-puerperal period, in addition to having the understanding in this area, capable of positively impacting the lives of women.