Abstract:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, safety of breastfeeding is one of the most frequently asked issues for mother and her baby. International guidelines recommends initiate or continue to breastfeed in this process. The purpose of this article is create an application example based on the Human Caring Theory (HCT)to sustain and support breastfeeding during the pandemic process. The anxiety level of the mothers who are adversely affected by the pandemic process is higher for both themselves and their babies compared to the normal time. Therefore, Lactation Consultant Nurse should try to act in accordance with these principles and be aware of her moral and ethical responsibilities while helping the mother to reveal her feelings and thoughts. During the support of breastfeeding, protective measures should also be followed. While the breastfeeding nurse will support the mother during breastfeeding, using love-based approaches, one of the HCT improvement processes, will reduce mothers’ concerns about COVID 19, the mother will be relieved and breastfeeding will be positively affected. Nurses’ compassionate, affectionate and loving approaches to mother and herself are part of caritas nursing. It is thought that it would be beneficial to start and continue breastfeeding during pandemic period and to use caritas processes that will positively affect the motivation of health professionals and ensure mutual healing.

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