The Effect of Breastfeeding Counseling on Social Support Perception, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Outcomes

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) recommend that babies start breastfeeding within the first hour after birth and be exclusively breastfed for the first six months. In this situation, the baby is not given any other food or liquid, including water, defined as "full breastfeeding." Breastfeeding schemes were developed by Labbok and Krosovec in 1990 to ensure consistency in research. According to this scheme, breastfeeding methods are divided into full, partial, and symbolic, according to the baby's nutritional characteristics. According to the Turkey Demographic and Health Survey (TNSA, 2018) data, 98% of children are breastfed at some point, and 42% receive food other than breast milk in the pre-lacteal (before breastfeeding) period. In Turkey, 71% of children under two are breastfed within the first hour after birth, and only 41% of babies under six months are exclusively breastfed.

Self-efficacy is an essential factor in breastfeeding at the desired level. Influenced by Bandura's definition of self-efficacy, Cindy-Lee Dennis developed the "Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Theory" by identifying the sources and influencing factors of Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Perception. According to Dennis and Faux, a mother's breastfeeding self-efficacy includes whether she breastfeeds her baby, how much time she spends caring for her baby, her thoughts about breastfeeding, and her ability to cope with emotional difficulties during breastfeeding. Mothers with high self-efficacy encourage themselves to face challenges and try to solve events by thinking positively. These mothers prefer breastfeeding more, are more courageous, and act ultimately when they experience difficulties. Mother's breastfeeding self-efficacy is affected by four primary sources of information: The mother's previous experiences regarding breastfeeding, the examples the mother sees from others regarding breastfeeding, the support of the environment regarding breastfeeding, and the mother's psychological state regarding breastfeeding. Healthcare personnel should influence these factors to improve self-efficacy. Maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy has been identified as an important modifiable factor for successful breastfeeding.

Various factors, such as breastfeeding self-efficacy and social support, affect the sustainability of breastfeeding. The studies stated that social and especially spousal support is adequate for successful breastfeeding and the mother's decision to breastfeed early at birth. According to some studies, those with more social support have higher breastfeeding self-efficacy rates. The studies emphasized that family support is an essential factor in encouraging breastfeeding. The failure of family members to provide adequate breastfeeding support and information to women resulted in the use of formula. It is stated that the older generation, especially the baby's grandmother or paternal grandmother, plays a central role in various aspects of pregnancy decision-making and child-rearing within the family structure. A study conducted among mothers-in-law in Nepal found that mothers-in-law "view themselves as key providers and decision makers of perinatal care practices." Therefore, the woman needs to receive support from her social circle through participation and encouragement during breastfeeding.

Hypnobreastfeeding is a relaxation technique that helps improve the breastfeeding process by holistically caring for the mind, body, and spirit of breastfeeding mothers. Hypnobreastfeeding produces positive feedback by making the mother more relaxed, calm, and comfortable during breastfeeding, that is, an increase in the release of oxytocin and prolactin by the pituitary. In the hypnobreastfeeding philosophy, affirmation, relaxation, imagination, and visualization positively affect the subconscious. When the positive affirmations provided by hypnobreastfeeding are placed in the subconscious, they automatically affect daily life and actions and increase mothers' self-confidence. Therefore, hypnobreastfeeding is suitable for creating positive intention and motivation in breastfeeding, reducing anxiety and stress, maximizing the amount and quality of breast milk, increasing mother-baby bonding, and accelerating the involution process.

Inclusion criteria

• Being 18 years or older,
• 28-37. be between weeks,
• Being primiparous,
• Having a healthy singleton pregnancy,
• Being at least a primary school graduate,
• Living with his/her spouse,
• There is a relative who will support the mother, whom she defines as a relative (spouse, the woman's mother, or mother-in-law), and this person also agrees to participate in the study,
• There is no condition that prevents breastfeeding for the mother and the baby (medication use, history of any psychiatric or chronic disease, history of any disease in the baby such as cleft palate-lip, etc.),

Exclusion criteria

• Not filling out the forms in the study or filling them incompletely,
• The participant wishes to leave the research,
• The emergence of a condition that prevents breastfeeding in the mother and baby,
• Moving from the city where the work is done or moving out of the town,
• Family support is for less than 1 month,