Introduction:

In Colombia, despite the implementation of initiatives such as breastfeeding counseling (BFC), exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates are low.

Objective:

To understand the experience of a group of nursing mothers regarding exclusive breastfeeding counseling provided at Women and Children Friendly Institutions (WCFI) in Bogotá D.C., Colombia.

Materials and methods:

Qualitative research with a phenomenological approach. In-depth interviews were administered to 19 breastfeeding mothers who were provided with exclusive breastfeeding counseling (EBFC) at 3 WCFI between August 2016 and January 2017. Units of meaning (UM) were identified through a comprehensive analysis performed in NVivo 10 and based on the reading of the textual transcripts of the interviews and the identification of essential structures in the mothers' narratives associated with the experience they had while being counseled at three moments (gestation, delivery/immediate postpartum, and puerperium).

Results:

The average age was 23 years. Only 37% of the mothers exclusively breastfed their children until they were 4 months old. Nine UMs were identified. During gestation and the immediate postpartum period, participants received instructions on how to breastfeed but were not provided with EBFC by healthcare staff. During the puerperium, the mothers' families and support networks provided them with help and guidance regarding breastfeeding.

Conclusion:

It is possible that the legal provisions on breastfeeding counseling and initiatives such as the WCFI are not being complied with in the country, as there are obstacles that hinder their proper execution. Thus, it is necessary to propose and develop effective strategies for the training of breastfeeding counselors among health personnel.

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