Introduction: Breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed a newborn and an infant. Breast milk and breastfeeding have the benefits that are important not only for babies but also for mothers in the environment. Breastfeeding is affected by a variety of factors, including stress. Purpose: To present the connection between breastfeeding and maternal stress and to find out what role stress hormones have in connection with breastfeeding. Methods: In the diploma work we used a descriptive method of work. A review of foreign professional literature was made. Literature collection took place from February to November 2019, we searched for it in the Medline, Science Direct and Cinahl databases. To achieve the results, we used 14 units of literature that was fully accessible online. Results: Many studies show that stress during pregnancy and the postpartum period affects the later establishment of lactation and breastfeeding, premature cessation of breastfeeding, and lower goals associated with breastfeeding. Studies have also shown that breastfeeding has no significant effect on fluctuations in daily cortisol, but short-term suppression of the cortisol response to psychological stress is recommended. Discussion and conclusion: Stress can be a major risk factor for unsuccessful or delayed breastfeeding. It is important that healthcare professionals are aware of this and identify mothers with severe symptoms of stress quickly enough, as in many cases they need more encouragement and help with breastfeeding.
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