This study compared the effectiveness of the application of expressed breastmilk or colostrum with that of hydrous lanolin to women's nipples after breastfeeding for prevention or reduction of nipple pain and trauma during the first 10 postpartum days. Each of the 23 subjects was her own control, applying lanolin to one nipple and expressed breastmilk or colostrum to the other. After every feeding mothers rated nipple pain for each breast on a 4-point scale. On postpartum days 0 to 5 , 7, and 10, nipple condition was assessed by investigators who were "blind" to the intervention used on each nipple. Nipple pain and trauma experienced by the women were similar for the two interventions. Of the 95 percent reporting nipple pain during feeding, 26 percent had "extreme pain. '' All women experienced nipple trauma. Engorgement, the most common breast problem, correlated positively and significantly with nipple trauma. No significant correlations were found between the following variables: perceived nipple pain and observed nipple trauma, nipple pain and number of feedings per day, nipple pain or trauma and hair or skin color, and nipple pain and prenatal preparation for breastfeeding. (BIRTH 14:1, March 1987)

The incidence and prevalence of breastfeeding has increased in the United States and Canada in the past decade, but in spite of its known benefits it is often abandoned before infants are two months of age. Society lacks the attitudes and knowledge necessary for breastfeeding success. A survey of the knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of 409 secondary school students in British Columbia, Canada, revealed misconceptions about the nature of breastfeeding. A high percentage felt it was unacceptable in social situations. The findings point to a need for the integration of information about breastfeeding into school health programs, biology, home economics/nutrition and family life/sexuality courses. Increased knowledge and discussion to foster positive attitudes could increase breastfeeding duration among parents in the future.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract