Abstract
Abstract: Breast engorgement is a painful condition affects postnatal women, and lead to unsuccessful breastfeeding. So, there is urgent need to increase women’s knowledge and to improve their self-care practices regarding breast engorgement. Aim: The present study aimed to assess self-care practices of primipara women regarding breast engorgement. Subjects and method: The study was conducted at postpartum departments, outpatient clinics and Neonatal intensive care units affiliated to Tanta University Hospital, El-Menshawy General Hospital and El-Mabara Hospital, in addition to Maternal and Child Health Centers at Botros and Sager. Convenience sample of 200 women were included in the study. Four tools were used for the collection of data: Tool I: Structured interview schedule, consisted of two parts: Part (1): Socio-demographic data of the women. Part (2): Reproductive history. Tool II: Knowledge of primipara women regarding breast engorgement. Tool III: Self-care practices of primipara women regarding breast engorgement. Tool IV: LATCH Breastfeeding Charting Scale. Results: The study revealed that almost three quarters (77.5%) of women had poor level of knowledge followed by (17.0% and 5.5% respectively) of them had fair and good level of knowledge. The entire of the studied women with breast engorgement had unsatisfactory practices. It also illustrated that, only 27.0% had well breastfeeding. Conclusion: There was poor knowledge, as well as unsatisfactory level of self -care practices regarding breast engorgement among primipara post-natal women. Recommendations: the study recommended developing antenatal classes for all women to increase their knowledge and enhance their self-care practices regarding breast engorgement.
Highlights
Puerperium is the period following childbirth during which the woman's body in general and the genital organs in particular return to the pre-pregnant state
Breast engorgement and nipple trauma are the most common problems associated with breast feeding and considered as a most significant factors that interfere with breast feeding during the first weeks of motherhood(4)
This is based on the recommendation of major medical organizations; American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) who are recommended that infants should receive nothing rather than breast milk during the first 6 months of the infant’s life, and continue receiving it for at least the first year (14)
Summary
Puerperium is the period following childbirth during which the woman's body in general and the genital organs in particular return to the pre-pregnant state. There are many common causes of breast engorgement, some are related to the women such as inverted and flat nipple, inappropriate feeding technique, imbalance of hormones production and increase breast vascularity. Nurses who work at obstetrical departments have a great role in to providing health education for women during antenatal and post-natal period regarding the importance of breast feeding for both women and infants, proper breast feeding technique and the most common problems which can occur during lactation(9). The risk for infection will increase because bacteria are not being removed by the lymphatic system at the normal rate It has adverse effect on the letdown mechanism; as a result of poor latch which cause severe breast problems such as sore nipples, mastitis, breast abscess and plugged milk ducts (10, 11). It is very important to assess self-care practices of primipara women regarding breast engorgement.
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