Main outcome variable
milk insufficiency, breast milk
The outcome of the intervention related to breastfeeding experience. This was measured using the BES at three data collection points (discharge home, and 1 and 2 weeks after childbirth). The scales were completed by participants at home and returned to the research team.BES is a questionnaire that consists of 30 items. The first 18 items measure presence or absence and severity of common breastfeeding difficulties in the early postpartum period. Scores range from “not at all” (1) to “unbearable” (5). The total score ranges from 18 to 90, with a higher score representing increased problem severity. The scale includes five subscales as follows: breast concerns, neonatal concerns, milk insufficiency concerns, maternal concerns, and process concerns. The last 12 items of the BES assess whether breastfeeding was continued, whether formula was added or substituted breast milk, how often formula was introduced, and what breastfeeding difficulties were related to parental weaning decisions in cases of early weaning [The validity of the English version and its reliability has been confirmed by the internal consistency method with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.77 [