To evaluate the effectiveness of a topical preparation of peppermint water in comparison with that of expressed breast milk for the prevention of nipple cracks in primiparous breastfeeding women.
One hundred and ninety-six primipara participants, who are breastfeeding after delivery at 38 or more week gestation, were assigned randomly to 2 groups, with one of 2 regimens (peppermint water, an old household remedy, and no treatment only using breast milk) to right and left sides. Each group was followed for a maximum of 3 visits within 14 days and until the 6 weeks postpartum by telephone call. The aerial parts of Mentha piperita were purchased from Hakim Momen Tabrizi Company, and the identity was confirmed by morphological characterization in comparison with the herbarium specimen retained in the School of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Also, a voucher specimen has been generated in that herbarium.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
196
The primary outcome that the study was designed to evaluate: the presence and severity of sore nipples, nipple pain.
The time at which the outcome is measured: nipple and areola cracks, and pain at days 4, 8, 14.
The frequency and duration of breastfeeding at days 4, 8, 14 and the number of mothers who continued feeding at week 6 was used as the secondary outcome
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