PROMOÇÃO DO ALEITAMENTO MATERNO COM MÃES ADOLESCENTES: ACOMPANHANDO E AVALIANDO ESSA PRÁTICA

This is a case study held in Ponta Grossa Municipality, Parana State/Brazil in 2005. It aimed to: promote breast-feeding among pregnant teenagers, as well as to follow up and evaluate breast-feeding quality; verify the difficulties found and provide guidance in order to avoid early waning. The subjects of this study were five teenagers, between thirteen and eighteen years of age, in the third trimester of gestation, and performing their prenatal. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire during the gestational period, and after guiding lectures. In the puerperal period, three home visits were held, and applied a semi-structured interview containing closed and open questions. The research pointed out the following difficulties found by the subjects: pain, fissure and mammary ingurgitation. All of them were breast-feeding in our last visit, free-frequency, and reported their intention to continue for over six months. Results evidenced that follow-up is essential, mainly among teenagers, in gestational as well as puerperal periods for them to realize the importance of breastfeeding, thus preventing early waning. Therefore, health professionals, especially nurses, must be able to advise and assist the practice of breast-feeding.