This is a qualitative study resulting from matters involving the nursing mother social system regards to relation between social system and breastfeeding phenomena. The study was based on the social system theory described by Sanicola as well as on the social representations theory described by Moscovici and Minayo. As participants of this study there were mothers, fathers and grandparents of children up to two years old who were living in Coimbra, a city of Minas Gerais state. A comprehensive analysis of nursing mother social system revealed it can or can not give support to breastfeeding success. Thus the support was expressed by different ways such as: 1- housework helping; 2- babysitting; 3- breastfeeding encouragement; 4- orientation and advices. In this way a social system implies realizing which sociocultural context a woman-mother is inserted in. It enlarges the looking over breastfeeding besides giving subsidies to formulate public politics more efficacious in favour of breastfeeding.
breastfeeding; family; health professional and social network
