This pilot project will provide an understanding of the contextual variables responsible for breast and nipple pain during breastfeeding initiation. These variables include, genetic variation, pain sensitivity, reactivity, pain catastrophizing and perceived stress. The purpose is to understand the efficacy of self-management (SM) strategies on each of these contextual variables, in an effort to inform a personalized approach to managing breastfeeding pain and its effect on improved health outcomes.
Breastfeeding (BF) is one of the most important early determinants of infant health and development. Duration of BF is significantly related to reduced incidence of infantile respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections, obesity and asthma. However, over 35% of mothers cease exclusive BF during the first 6 weeks due to nipple and breast pain. While 90% of mothers report acute nipple and breast pain during the first week of BF initiation, approximately 30% will experience persistent pain (\>10 days). Due to the significant impact of nipple and breast pain on BF duration, pain is a significant barrier for achieving public health outcomes. The following pilot project will test the feasibility of a Breastfeeding Self-Management (BSM) Intervention on BF outcomes in mothers with nipple and breast pain. In addition, the proposed study will provide a preliminary examination of genetic, psychological and somatosensory factors that predict nipple and breast pain and possibly, early cessation of BF. Individual factors, including genetic polymorphisms of pain sensitivity genes and the individual's interpretation of pain can influence pain facilitation or inhibition at the molecular level of pain processing. Moreover, maternal anticipation of pain may increase pain catastrophizing, perceived stress and reactivity contributing to increased peripheral and central sensitivity. Identifying strategies to increase mothers' BF knowledge, pain self-efficacy and self-regulation skills could lead to increased SM behaviors. Therefore, this pilot study was designed to target pain SM process factors (self-monitoring, knowledge of breast care, BF self-efficacy, pain self-efficacy, and problem solving) relevant to mothers who experience pain during BF. The overarching goal of this program of research is to improve nipple and breast pain SM in BF mothers and enhance their BF self-efficacy to achieve their BF goals. The proposed study will address a major barrier of BF duration by identifying factors that contribute to nipple and breast pain. The proposed SM intervention will specifically target pain information, pain self-efficacy and problem-solving as central components of the SM process. In addition, the investigators will examine the influence of peripheral and central sensitivity and frequency of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), on SM process and outcome variables over time to gain knowledge about the precise influence of the molecular context of pain on risk of nipple and breast pain and BF outcomes.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
65
Self-Monitoring: At discharge, mothers will complete daily diaries for self-monitoring to stimulate cognitive reframing on the occurrence, duration, and characteristics of nipple and breast pain, infants' latch and sucking pattern, positioning, length of each BF session, and the MAIBB. Self-Regulation: To support self-regulation skills, mothers will be provided with several 5-minute video modules on pain and BF pain SM with additional resources links. After discharge mother will receive text message from a nurse 2X/week for BF support. Mothers may text the nurse for emergent BF support.
UConn Health
Farmington, Connecticut, United States
Manchester Memorial Hospital
Manchester, Connecticut, United States
Pain Sensitivity
Quantitative sensory testing
Time frame: Baseline
Genetic variations in COMT
Pain susceptibility SNPs genotyping related to breastfeeding related breast and nipple pain.
Time frame: Baseline
Increased duration of breastfeeding
With self-management of breast and nipple pain
Time frame: Week 1, 2 and 6
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