Objective:To explore the mediating effect of breastfeeding self-regulation on the relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding adaptation in parturient women.Methods:Totally 310 parturient women who visited the postpartum clinic at Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital from May to September 2023 were selected by convenience sampling. The participants were surveyed using a General Information Questionnaire, the Breastfeeding Self-Regulation Questionnaire (BSRQ), the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale Short Form (BSES-SF), and the Breastfeeding Adaptation Scale (BFAS). The mediating effect of breastfeeding self-regulation between breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding adaptation was tested using the Process macro and Bootstrap method.Results:The scores for the 310 parturient women were 16.83 (13.83, 19.67) for BSRQ, (45.20±12.38) for BSES-SF, and 107.50 (96.00, 118.00) for BFAS. Spearman correlation analysis showed that breastfeeding self-efficacy was positively correlated with breastfeeding self-regulation and breastfeeding adaptation ( rs=0.314, 0.673; P<0.01), and breastfeeding self-regulation was positively correlated with breastfeeding adaptation ( rs=0.618; P<0.01). The mediating effect of breastfeeding self-regulation between breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding adaptation was 0.149, accounting for 21.88% of the total effect. Conclusions:Breastfeeding self-regulation mediates the relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding adaptation in parturient women. In early postpartum breastfeeding management, healthcare professionals should take measures to improve breastfeeding self-efficacy, help parturient women enhance their self-regulation abilities, and thereby improve their breastfeeding adaptation.