A randomized controlled study will be conducted at the accredited Baby Friendly Hospital in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The study will include primiparas who have established breast feeding at the maternity ward and developed symptoms of painful and sore nipples within 72 hours from childbirth. Participants will be allocated in two groups and will receive education prior to the study.
Recent studies show that early termination of breastfeeding is often associated with painful and sore nipples. Although health professionals recommend various treatments for painful and sore nipples, including alternative treatments, there is currently not enough evidence to recommend specific treatment of painful and sore nipples in lactating women. The primary objective of this study is to compare the effect of lanolin administration and the application of breast milk on the intensity of pain and healing of damaged nipples during breastfeeding. Subjects in the lanolin group will apply lanolin on each nipple and areola after each feeding while subjects in the breast milk group will apply several drops of milk on the nipple after each feed and allow them to air dry. In both groups, the treatment will last for 7 days or until the symptoms of pain and nipple damage have ceased. The main outcome measure is pain, which will be assessed through three time points and will be measured using an abridged version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Nipple damage will be assessed by means of a validated assessment tool, the Nipple trauma score. Secondary outcome measures will include breastfeeding efficacy, duration of any/exclusive breastfeeding, reasons for stopping breastfeeding and satisfaction with proposed treatment.The contribution of this study will be reflected in efficient treatment, better care of health professional in the prevention and treatment of damaged and sore nipples, and the study will also contribute in defining the guidelines for the development of procedure in midwifery practice for the treatment of painful and damaged nipples.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
206
Lanolin will be applied by hand in a thin layer to the nipple and areola after every breast feed (approximately every 2 to 3 hours) for a maximum of 7 days or until the symptoms of pain and signs of nipple damage have ceased (if noted before 7 days).
After each breast feed (approximately every 2 to 3 hours), a few drops of breast milk will be applyed to the nipple and areola by hand and allow them to air dry. The treatment will last for up to 7 days or until the symptoms of pain and signs of nipple damage have ceased (if noted before 7 days).
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Hospital Mostar
Mostar, HNŽ, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Change in nipple pain severity
An abbreviated version of the McGill Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) will be used to assess the intensity of nipple pain. For the assessment of the current intensity of pain in the nipples will be used subcategories SF-MPQ, the current assessment of pain (PPI). It consists of a verbal scoring scale with values from 0 to 5, 0= No pain, 1= Mild, 2 = Discomforting, 3= Distressing, 4= Horrible, 5= Excruciating
Time frame: baseline, 3 and 7 days post randomization
Nipple damage change
The baseline assessment of nipple damage will be performed by a validated Nipple Trauma Score (NST). The assessment is performed on scales from 0 to 5 where 0 = no macroscopically visible changes in the skin, 1 = erythema or edema or a combination of both, 2 = superficial damage or no scab on \<25% of the nipple surface, 3 = superficial damage with or without scab on\> 25% of nipple surface, 4 = partial thickness wound with or without scab on \<25% of nipple surface, 5 = partial thickness with or without scab on\> 25% of nipple surface. Three and 7 days after applying the treatment, the condition of the nipple will be evaluated with a Questionnaire on Pain and Damage to the Nipple, where a telephone survey will be performed by the Principal Investigator in order to describe and compare the condition of the nipples.
Time frame: baseline, 3 and 7 days post randomization
Assessment of breastfeeding self-efficacy
Breastfeeding self-efficacy will be evaluated by a validated version of the Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). The scale consists of 14 items, with the offered five statements on the Likert scale, from strongly disagree to strongly agree. The sum of grades ranges from 14 to 70, the higher the sum the greater the efficiency of breastfeeding.
Time frame: baseline, 3 and 7 days post randomization
Breastfeeding duration and exclusivity.
The way of feeding of the baby in the last 24 hours will be evaluated by the World Health Organization (WHO) breastfeeding categories. The assessment will be conducted through a telephone interview with her mother.
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Time frame: 3 and 7 days post randomization, 3 and 6 months postpartum
Satisfaction with proposed treatment
The evaluation will be conducted by telephone interview with the Maternal Satisfaction
Time frame: 3 and 6 months postpartum