Open AccessWomen’s body image and breastfeeding
Author(s) -
Barbara Broers,
Joanna Wawrzyniak,
Wiktoria Kubiec
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
puls uczelni
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2449-9021
pISSN - 2080-2021
DOI - 10.5604/01.3001.0010.1618
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , affect (linguistics) , childbirth , pregnancy , construct (python library) , psychology , developmental psychology , mental health , cognition , medicine , breast feeding , lactation , nursing , obstetrics , psychiatry , pediatrics , computer science , communication , biology , genetics , programming language
Only a small number of studies draw attention to the relationship between body image after pregnancy andduring lactation with the decision to undertake and continue breastfeeding. Body image is a complex mentalconstruct, which consists of: cognitive, emotional and behavioural components, and which is subject to changeduring the life of the woman. Pregnancy, childbirth and lactation affect the physicality of women, which is alsoreflected in the way of defining their body image.Dissatisfaction with own body can affect the decision to breastfeed or cause discomfort during breastfeeding.At the same time, undertaking breastfeeding can, through the hormones secreted at the time, positively influencethe assessment of the woman’s body before and during pregnancy. The discovery of this relationship, andin the future indicating the precise correlation phenomena, could have a practical use in working with patientswhether to breastfeed.By noticing and identifying an early onset of irregularities in the forming body image of a pregnant women,healthcare professionals can support those in need to build a real body image and positive attitude towards occurringchanges and thus increase their comfort. Recognising and understanding the obstacles women experienceon the road to breastfeeding, educators and professionals can create programs which consider a more complex,psycho-physical dimension of breastfeeding.