Abstract
Objective
To identify how fathers perceive their contribution to the support and encouragement of breastfeeding based on learning, and see how their partners understood this participation.
Methods
Qualitative study with eight families interviewed before and after the completion of four group meetings and in follow-up during home visits in the postpartum period. Data were analyzed to understand the content of the couples’ speeches based on the attachment theory.
Results
The fathers show satisfaction in providing care to children, and support the breastfeeding for their partners’ contentment.
Conclusion
The fathers demonstrated to be true participants, especially when their efforts are valued by their partners and nurses. The expansion of support activities to couples is recommended since the prenatal period and after childbirth in a systematic way on the public health care network.
Paternity; Breast feeding; Maternal-child nursing; Public health nursing