The Effect of Breastfeeding Education Using a Doll During Pregnancy on Newborn Feeding

The most important nutrient in infant nutrition has been breast milk throughout history. Breastfeeding has many benefits for both the infant, the mother and the society. In addition to reducing mortality and morbidity rates in infants, it provides a healthy growth and development process. It has positive effects on the mother such as feeling happy, being physically healthy with the effect of hormones, facilitating the return of the uterus, providing emotional satisfaction, reducing the risk of breast cancer, reducing the risk of anemia, reducing the risk of depression, facilitating mother-infant bonding, and protecting from a new pregnancy. In addition, being free and natural, decreasing maternal-infant mortality, decreasing the risk of disease, providing healthy individuals to the society, being fast and requiring preparation, decreasing health expenditures, decreasing the loss of labor force, decreasing the risk of loss of money for working mothers were the benefits to the society and the country. In the world and in our country, many practices are carried out to popularize breastfeeding. One of the most important of these practices is the friendly hospital practice, which informs pregnant women and families about the importance of breastfeeding. Skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby is ensured immediately after birth, and the mother is supported to start breastfeeding as soon as possible and not to interrupt contact (Bolat et al, 2011; Samur, 2006). This approach aims to increase the rate of breastfeeding. However, in the changing world order, there may be problems in maintaining the maternal herd due to the inclusion of women in business life. For this reason, practices to promote breastfeeding are on the agenda. The primary aim of these practices is to provide exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, supplementary feeding from the 6th month onwards and continuation of breastfeeding until the age of 2 years. Within the scope of the "Promotion of Breastfeeding and Baby Friendly Hospitals Program" in our country, it is aimed to reach all hospitals where births are performed and to provide education and information in these hospitals. For this reason, prenatal and postnatal breastfeeding and breastfeeding education is provided by health professionals. It is also recommended that this education should be shaped according to the needs of women, the content should be diversified, teaching should be carried out by using technology, and continuity of education should be ensured.