Instrument development and an intervention to increase parents' self-efficacy regarding their infant's sleep.

Objective: Many Swedish parents experience that their infant has sleeping problems. Parents' self-efficacy regarding their infants' sleep may play an important role in how they perceive these problems. This pilot study aimed to develop an instrument measuring parents' self-efficacy regarding their infant's sleep and to examine if parents' self-efficacy was affected by an intervention focusing on parental education.

Breastfeeding as a balancing act - pregnant Swedish women's voices on breastfeeding.

Background: Breastfeeding provides health benefits to both women and children. The rationale behind an individual woman's decision to breastfeed or not can depend on several factors, either independently or in combination. The aim of the current study was to explore attitudes towards breastfeeding among pregnant women in Sweden who intend to breastfeed.

Antenatal depressive symptoms and early initiation of breastfeeding in association with exclusive breastfeeding six weeks postpartum: a longitudinal population-based study.

Background: Depressive symptoms negatively impact on breastfeeding duration, whereas early breastfeeding initiation after birth enhances the chances for a longer breastfeeding period. Our aim was to investigate the interplay between depressive symptoms during pregnancy and late initiation of the first breastfeeding session and their effect on exclusive breastfeeding at six weeks postpartum.

Methods: In a longitudinal study design, web-questionnaires including demographic data, breastfeeding information and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were completed by 1217 women at pregnancy weeks 17-20, 32 and/or at six weeks postpartum.

Risk factors for exclusive breastfeeding lasting less than two months-Identifying women in need of targeted breastfeeding support.

Background: Breastfeeding rates in Sweden are declining, and it is important to identify women at risk for early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding lasting less than two months postpartum.

Methods: A population-based longitudinal study was conducted at Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden.

Experience of the first breastfeeding session in association with the use of the hands-on approach by healthcare professionals: a population-based Swedish study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of healthcare professionals' use of the hands-on approach during the first breastfeeding session postpartum and its possible association with the mothers' experience of their first breastfeeding session.

Materials And Methods: This was a population-based longitudinal study conducted at Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden, of all women giving birth at the hospital from May 2006 to June 2007. Six months postpartum, a questionnaire including questions regarding breastfeeding support, caregiving routines, depressive symptoms, and the woman's experience of the first breastfeeding session was sent to the mothers.