title: Application of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to Prevent Nipple Cracking in Lactating Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is well established that extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), applied to the skin, has healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of EVOO in the prevention of nipple cracking in lactating women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental, prospective, randomized study of 300 lactating women, admitted to the postpartum unit of the city's general hospital (Cienfuegos, Cuba). The study was carried out in 2012. Eligible patients were randomized into two groups of 150 women. In Group 1, EVOO was applied on the nipple after feeding, and in Group 2, drops of breast milk were applied to the nipple after feeding. Clinical evaluations were made during the first week of treatment and after the first month. All women who initiated breastfeeding were considered eligible to be included in this study; breastfeeding was characterized as the moment of mother-child interaction with suction on the nipple. Efficacy was evaluated quantitatively, as the absence of cracks in the nipple during the first 2 weeks of lactation using as the proportion of women with or without nipple cracks, and if present, whether they were moderate or slight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The quantitative efficacy was 97.3% and no adverse effects occurred in mothers and newborns during the administration of EVOO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EVOO helps prevent nipple cracking in lactating women. It has been shown to have protective effects when breastfeeding presents technical difficulties. This conclusion is borne out by the frequency distribution results obtained, which reflect a significantly higher proportion of nipple cracking in the population that was not treated with EVOO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use EVOO to prevent nipple cracking during breastfeeding by administering 3 drops on each nipple after each feeding. Decreased nipple cracking will reduce pain and enhance breastfeedinging by administering 3 drops on each nipple after each feeding, improving the health of mothers and infants.
authors.affiliation: Research Group CTS 367, Andalusia, Spain, and Nursing Department, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: María José Aguilar
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cordero
authors.affiliation: Research Group CTS 367, Andalusia, Spain, and University of Medical Sciences, Cienfuegos, Cuba.
authors.forename: Norma Mur
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Villar
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael Guisado
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Barrilao
authors.affiliation: Mathematical Sciences, University of Technical Sciences, Cienfuegos, Cuba.
authors.forename: Manuel Eduardo Cortés
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cortés
authors.affiliation: Research Group CTS 367, Andalusia, Spain, and Nursing Department, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio Manuel Sánchez
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: López
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D003462:Cuba; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009558:Nipples / Q000293:injuries*; D000069463:Olive Oil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000069463:Olive Oil
keywords: extra virgin olive oil (EVOO); lactating women; nipple cracking