Common Concerns of Mothers Who Breast-feed

Skin Changes and Pain in the Nipple During the 1st Week of Lactation

“…Many theories exist regarding the cause of nipple pain. Among the factors that allegedly contribute to such pain are dietary deficiencies and lack of exposure of the nipples to temperature variations and sunlight (Newton, 1952), breast engorgement that requires the infant to suck abnormally hard (Applebaum, 1970;Cerutti, 198l), improper positioning of the infant at the breast (Borovies, 1984;James, 1981;Lawrence, 1989;Schlegel, 1983;Wooldridge, 1986a), nutritional supplementation with formula that stimulates incorrect and unenthusiastic breastfeeding (Schlegel, 1983), use of schedules rather than demand feedings (Countryman, 1973), stimulating an unwilling infant to breastfeed (Schlegel, 1983), and vigorous infant sucking and prolonged breastfeeding episodes (Grassley & Davis, 1978). However, although these factors may well contribute to nipple pain, no empirical data support their association with such pain.…”

Validation of the Nursing Diagnosis of Ineffective Breastfeeding

“…Among the many other factors mentioned in the literature are lack of commitment or anxiety and fatigue on the part of the mother (Coreil & Murphy, 1988;McNeilly, Robinson, Houston, & Howie, 1983;Morgan, 1986;Newton & Newton, 1948), lack of knowledge about breastfeeding (Grassley & Davis, 1978;Tully & Dewey, 1985), and lack of emotional support from partners, family members, or health professionals (Morse & Harrison, 1987;Tully & Dewey, 1985).…”

Social coercion for weaning

“…In the hospital, educational programs on the benefits and methods of breastfeeding are correlated with an increased duration of breastfeeding 33 . The provision of mothers with formula samples and/or exposure to advertisements for formula are associated with a decreased duration of breastfeeding 34,35…”