The purpose of this investigational thesis was to find out how breastfeeding succeeds in Pori area from the perspective of mothers. Its purpose was also to find out which factors had an effect to the success of breastfeeding. The aim was to produce information that can be used to develop the guidance and promotion of breastfeeding in Pori’s child health centres and maternity hospital. The target group of the study was all mothers of Pori area, who had a 1 to 3-year-old child. Public health nurses of Pori’s child health centres forwarded the voluntary electronic questionnaire to the target group of the thesis. 23 mothers answered the questionnaire.

The national breastfeeding recommendations do not come true as expected as the exclusive and partial breastfeeding is finished before the recommended age. People start giving solid food at an early age to their infants. The guidance of breastfeeding in both maternity hospital and the child health centres of Pori is not consistent and should be enhanced. Sometimes infants are given extra milk without medical reasons in the maternity hospital. As the previous studies have showed, this study also indicates that the mother’s young age affects breastfeeding.

The guidance and instruction of breastfeeding should be developed in Pori area, since the breastfeeding recommendations do not fully come true. This study shows that most mothers found breastfeeding as a positive experience. Based on the results of this thesis, it would be justifiable to study the use of extra milk in maternity hospital in the future. It would also be good to study how the guidance and instruction of breastfeeding comes true in the maternity hospital and health centres in Pori area.