Abstract
IntroductionThe mammary gland is a paired skin gland of women, responsible for the lactation process. It is synchronized with the operation of the endocrine system. The production of breast milk takes place after childbirth through the action of the hormonal and nervous systems. Secretion is controlled by prolactin and oxytocin. Its composition includes: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. It is rich in stem cells. The function of the gland is to secure the nutritional and energy needs of the newborn.Aim of the workThe aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the knowledge of the patients of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, WSZZ in Kielce about lactation and breastfeeding before and during the Covid-19 pandemic –a comparative study.Material and methods420 puerperae participated in the study. The first pre-COVID-19 pandemic group included 196 women, the second group during the pandemic period included 224 respondents. Among the puerperae, women aged over 30 constituted the most numerous age group.The Bioethics Committee of UJK (Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce) approved the study No. 16/2021.Statistical analysis was performed with the use of the Statistica computer program.ResultsThe patients living in the city have more knowledge about lactation and breastfeeding than the patients from rural areas.The older the patient and the greater the number of completed pregnancies and deliveries, the greater the knowledge about lactation and breastfeeding.The assessment of the involvement of medical personnel depends on the time when the patient gave birth.The period of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the knowledge about reducing the risk of breast cancer in women.The patients from the pandemic period are more knowledgeable about breastfeeding and lactation than patients in the pre-pandemic period.
Highlights
The mammary gland is a paired skin gland of women, responsible for the lactation process
We deal with the prolactin and oxytocin reflexes
The infant stimulates the sensory endings of the mammary gland by sucking on the nipple, causing muscle cells to contract, which results in the outflow of milk [4,5]
Summary
The mammary gland is the largest paired skin gland responsible for the lactation process. The infant stimulates the sensory endings of the mammary gland by sucking on the nipple, causing muscle cells to contract, which results in the outflow of milk [4,5]. There appears swelling, breast tenderness and their increased temperature [6] Food stasis is another lactation problem, which apart from the swelling and pain in the gland, causes fever leading to mastitis [4,19]. A woman should consume complex carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice), saturated fatty acids (nuts, fish, oil), proteins (cheese, eggs, and dairy products) [22]. She should not avoid legumes, milk or raw fruit [23]. The age of the examined patients does not depend on the time of performing the research
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