This randomized controlled trial aims to examine the effects of structured breastfeeding education supported by midwives on the sucking skills of infants experiencing nipple refusal, maternal breastfeeding motivation, and mother-infant bonding. The study will be conducted with mothers who have infants aged 1-6 months and have been experiencing nipple refusal for at least 3 days and up to 30 days. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group; the intervention group will receive a one-week structured breastfeeding education program, while the control group will receive standard care. Following the education, online support will be provided for 15 days, and breastfeeding observations will be monitored. Sucking skills of the infants, mother-infant bonding, and maternal breastfeeding motivation will be assessed at both baseline and post-intervention evaluations.
None
Infants with serious congenital anomalies or health problems
Parallel
Structured Breastfeeding Education
BehavioralOne-week, midwife-supported structured breastfeeding education for mothers of infants experiencing nipple refusal. Includes guidance on breastfeeding techniques, nipple refusal management, milk production enhancement, skin-to-skin contact, mother-infant bonding, and motivation strategies. Followed by 15 days of online support and daily breastfeeding monitoring.
Breastfeeding Motivation Scale (for Primiparous Mothers)
Breastfeeding motivation will be assessed using the Breastfeeding Motivation Scale (BMS), developed by Peleg et al. (2015) and adapted into Turkish by Mızrak (2017). The scale consists of 23 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 4 = strongly agree). The scale does not yield a total score; instead, subscale scores are calculated as the mean of the items. Higher scores indicate higher motivation in the respective subscale.
Maternal Attachment (Measured by Maternal Attachment Scale)
Maternal attachment will be assessed using the Maternal Attachment Scale (Maternal Bağlanma Ölçeği, MBÖ) developed by Muller (1994) and adapted into Turkish by Kavlak and Şirin (2009). The scale consists of 26 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = never, 4 = always). Total scores range from 26 to 104. Higher scores indicate higher maternal attachment.
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