Objectives:

To analyze the intergenerational experiences of female migrants from the same family on breastfeeding; to grasp the social representations of this population over the generations about the experience of breastfeeding.

Material and methods:

This is a qualitative research based on Social Representations Theory and carried out with 63 women from the same family and from different generations, 21 triads in total. For the data collection, the Free Word Association Test was used and, for the analysis of these, the Tri-Deux-Mots software.

Results:

For migrant women, the practice of breastfeeding remains tied to physiological and emotional benefits for the child, requiring self-denial and satisfaction. In the breastfeeding period, women who move to new territories are more vulnerable due to the geographical, sociocultural and affective adaptation to which they will be subjected. It should be emphasized that the migratory process can influence breastfeeding and be the cause of maternal conflicts, especially among younger generations, since they require family references that often remain distant or absent.

Conclusions:

Socio-cultural diversity and territory influence the majority of breastfeeding migrant women, making it necessary to understand the regional, cultural, family, and generational influences that permeate this process.

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