Breast Feeding Self Efficacy in First Week Post Partum Anggorowati Anggorowati 1 , Elsa Naviati 1 , Sari Sudarmiati 1 , Fatikhu Yatuni Asmara 1 , Dwi Susilowati 1 Nursing Department Faculty of Medicine Diponegoro University Semarang, Indonesia anggorowati@fk.undip.ac.id Abstract Background: The success of breastfeeding mothers is demonstrated by exclusive breastfeeding for six months. Self-efficacy of breastfeeding mothers determines the success of exclusive breastfeeding Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze the characteristics of mothers with regard to self-efficacy. Methods: Cross-sectional research in first-week postpartum, normal delivery, live birth. Sample taken by purposive sampling on 44 postpartum mothers in Public Health Center and hospital in Semarang area. Data were analyzed by linear regression. Results: The results of the study were mostly high school educated women (56.8%), hospital birth (52.3%), there were self-efficacy differences on the first and third days (p = 0,032). Strong characteristic factors influenced the self-efficacy of early breastfeeding initiation (p = 0,002) and gravida (p = 0,013). Conclusion: In postpartum women should be done early breast-feeding intiation and before the third day should be given education, family support and nurse / midwife for exclusive breastfeeding. Keywords:post partum mothers, breastfeeding self efficacy, early breastfeeding initiation INTRODUCTION The mother's ability to breastfeed is demonstrated by the production and release of breast milk that is affected by the hormone prolactin and oxytocin. The letdown reflex is the response of the nervous system that causes breastfeeding cells to contract so that the milk inside it is squeezed out, flowing along the milk line, and out through the nipple. The new letdown reflex works when it gets a command from the hormone oxytocin. High levels of the hormone oxytocin maximize the number of breast milk containment(Riordan and Wambach, 2010). The post partum mother has the task of breastfeeding her baby exclusively for 6 months continuing for up to 2 years. Benefits obtained by breastfeeding the baby, among others, for the mother alone can accelerate the process of uterine involution, reduce the incidence of puerperal bleeding, reduce breast cancer risk. For the baby's own effective breastfeeding is beneficial to meet the nutrients, bonding relationships with his mother, improve the body's defenses(Pilliteri, 2003). Every postpartum has the potential to exclusively breastfeed but some conditions make the mother unable to breastfeed. Self-efficacy of breastfeeding is one of the factors that influence mothers to have confidence to breastfeed. Confidence for breastfeeding will stimulate the hormone oxytocin so as to improve the smoothness of breast milk. The experience at the time of giving mother's own self-efficacy. Significant developments occur during the first weeks of the puerperium. Engorgement occured on the day 1-3 childbirth, the period began to produce milk. On the first day some mothers become less confident because the milk produced is not smooth. Therefore we need to know the difference of self efficacy of breastfeeding mother on the first day and the third day brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by Diponegoro University Institutional Repository