The Effect of Birth Memory on Breastfeeding Adaptation in Primiparous Women

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between birth memory and breastfeeding adaptation in primiparous women and to identify the socio-demographic and obstetric factors associated with both birth memory and breastfeeding adaptation. Methods: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 274 primiparous women who had vaginal deliveries at a private university hospital between March and July 2024. Data were collected at the 24th hour and on the 15th day postpartum using the "Personal Information Form," the "Birth Memory and Recall Scale" and the "Breastfeeding Adaptation Scale". Data analysis was performed using the SPSS 25.0 program, with statistical significance set at p < .05. Results: The mean age of the participants was 28.52±3.56 years. The total scores of the Birth Memory and Recall Scale were 87.51±15.19 at the first measurement and 89.10±18.16 at the second. The Breastfeeding Adaptation Scale scores were 102.89±17.71 and 117.47±9.90, respectively. A weak negative correlation was found between the first scores of both scales, and between the first Breastfeeding score and the second Birth Memory score. The second Breastfeeding score was also weakly negatively correlated with both the first and second Birth Memory scores. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that birth memory can significantly impact breastfeeding adaptation during the postpartum period.