INCENTIVO E PROMOÇÃO DO ALEITAMENTO MATERNO EM UM HOSPITAL UNIVERSITÁRIO: VIVÊNCIAS DE UM PROJETO DE EXTENSÃO.

This paper reports the experience of teachers and students in an extension project of the undergraduate Nursing course entitled "Incentivo e promoção do aleitamento materno: trilhando os passos da Iniciativa Hospital Amigo da Criança" ("Encouraging and promoting breastfeeding: tracing the steps of the Amigo da Criança Hospital Iniciative") linked to the "Programa de Extensão Integração Universidade Federal de Uberlândia/Comunidade" (PEIC - Extension Program Federal University of Uberlandia and Community Integration) carried out in a university hospital. Between December/2013 and June/2014, 1405 birth occurred, predominantly via cesarean (66,8%), in woman aged between 19 and 30 years (62,1%). 401 women were attended individually; and 63 carer/women who had recently given birth were attended in groups. Mother and babies with difficulty in breastfeeding were monitored during hospitalization so they could be guided, assisted and encouraged on what concerns breastfeeding. Furthermore, 22 nursing professionals attended the training, which was a dialogued lecture. The extension project showed that the daily visit to the binomials (mother/child), breastfeeding's assessment and guidance to mothers provided them security to breastfeed their children. It contributed to increase the knowledge of the postpartum women/carer and professionals about the benefits of breastfeeding and the clinical management of it. It also promoted the experiencing and learning of the students in professional reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]