The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of women who breastfed their children in Japan's postwar period when breast milk substitutes were not readily available. Methods The subjects of the study were 13 healthy elderly women who gave birth to their first child in 1955 or earlier, and who raised their infants on breast milk. Information on women's experiences breastfeeding their children were gathered mainly from semi-structured interviews. The interview data were recorded after obtaining the consent of the women. Afterwards, transcripts were prepared and a qualitative inductive analysis was performed with reference to the methods of ethnography. Results Four categories such as: "good lactation and physicality", "positive thought and behavior toward the continuation of breastfeeding"; "psychosocial involvement toward breastfeeding by others"; and "affirmative self-concept of themselves as mothers", along with the following sixteen subcategories including as: [the continuation of good lactation]; [a lifestyle promoting natural lactation]; [nursing continuation and contraception effect]; [acquisition of knowledge and information about breastfeeding]; [nursing custom assuming autonomous feeding]; [experience of the pleasant feeling that nursing brings]; [extension of weaning time]; [firm convictions as to the value of breastfeeding]; [pain and distress from restricted free nursing]; [another person's decision as to breast milk deprivation]; [strong support and trust of mother]; [nursing support that a midwife makes a difference]; [cooperation among community through back up of mother's milk]; [guarding and passing on breastfeeding tradition and experience]; [smooth acquisition of breastfeeding skills and confidence in child care]; and [formation development of high maternal role awareness]. These were extracted from the descriptive data on the breastfeeding of these 13 women. Conclusion In Japan's postwar reconstruction years breast milk substitutes were not readily available, and women who experienced breastfeeding at that time were self-aware with regard to good lactation; they inherited the psychosocial involvement toward breastfeeding by others; they had a positive attitude and behavior with regard to the continuation of breastfeeding; and may be assumed to have had an affirmative self-concept of themselves as mothers through the act of raising their children on breast milk. These women and their families were motivated by the belief that "there is only mother's milk to bring up my child".
