Criteria for successful breastfeeding: mothers' perceptions.

A descriptive study was conducted to determine the criteria Western Australian mothers use to decide whether their breastfeeding was successful. Successful breastfeeding tends to be measured by duration with minimal research examining breastfeeding success from mothers' perspectives. Telephone interviews were conducted with 183 mothers who were asked to classify their breastfeeding as successful or unsuccessful and identify criteria used as a basis for their decision. Nineteen women (10 unsuccessful, 9 successful) were then interviewed in depth. Content analysis revealed breastfeeding success or failure to be a personally defined experience. Four categories of criteria used to determine breastfeeding success emerged: giving, persistence, meeting expectations and accomplishing personal goals. Nurses play a significant role in promoting breastfeeding. Therefore, encouraging understanding of the mother's perspective values the uniqueness of each experience and allows nurses to assess, acknowledge and reinforce a mother's perceptions of success.