Effect of Peppermint Water Versus Expressed Breast Milk on Nipple Trauma among Lactating Primiparous

Abstract

Back ground: Nipple trauma associated with breast feeding is common during lactation,with an incidence ranging from 34% to 96% and remains the major reason for failing toestablish breastfeeding. Aim of the study: was to determine the effect of peppermintwater in the prevention of nipple trauma during breastfeeding. Subjects and methods:Research design: A Quasi-experimental design. Setting: study was carried out atpostnatal department of Zagazig University Hospitals .Subject: One hundred primiparousbreastfeeding women were assigned randomly to two groups. Each group (50 women)applied only one of the above preparations on both breasts for 14 days. The rate of nippletrauma and areola crack and pain was evaluated together with the change in womenknowledge and practice. Tools of data collection: A structured interview sheet,Evaluation check list to assess women's practices related to breastfeeding, VisualAnalogue Scale, The Nipple Trauma Score and nipple soreness scale. Results: Vastmajority of the subjects in peppermint water group and group of expressed breast milk hadwrong or incomplete knowledge about breast feeding on the first day. More than two thirdsof women in peppermint water group and group of expressed breast milk felt no pain intheir breasts or nipple at the 7th day. However by the 14th day, women in group 1(peppermint water) had significantly experience mild and moderate pain and less severepain compared to group of expressed breast milk .Conclusion: peppermint water iseffective in the prevention of nipple trauma and less nipple pain compared to theapplication of express breast milk. Recommendations: Further studies are recommendedto gain more insight into the effectiveness of peppermint water.