Skin changes and pain in the nipple during the 1st week of lactation.
OBJECTIVE
To document skin changes in the nipple during the 1st week of breastfeeding and to explore the relationship of such changes to pain.


METHODS
Longitudinal descriptive study. Subjects were visited four times during the 1st week of breastfeeding.


METHODS
Convenience sample of 20 Caucasian women.


METHODS
Hospital and home.


METHODS
Observed skin characteristics of the nipple included erythema, edema, fissures, blisters, inflamed areas, eschar, white patches, dark patches, yellow patches, peeling, pus, and ecchymosis. Subject-rated nipple pain.


RESULTS
Skin changes were identified and quantified. Changes were visible in 100% (20) of the sample, and 65% (13) had severe skin damage; 90% (18) of the subjects reported pain. Some correlations between skin characteristics and pain were statistically significant, but not clinically meaningful. Skin damage was concentrated on the tip of the nipple.


CONCLUSIONS
The data chronicle skin changes and their relationship to nipple pain during the 1st week of breastfeeding. Normal neonatal sucking appears to induce a suction wound on the skin of the nipples of many breastfeeding women that may account for pain experienced at the onset of lactation.
Ziemer
M M
MM
Villanova University, PA 19085.
Pigeon
J G
JG
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009558:Nipples / Q000293:injuries*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010781:Photography; D011187:Posture; D012307:Risk Factors; D013391:Sucking Behavior; D013997:Time Factors; D044465:White People; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000473:pathology