Topical Treatments Used by Breastfeeding Women to Treat Sore and Damaged Nipples

Abstract

Background: Nipple pain and trauma are frequent complaints of new mothers, and a variety of treatments have been proposed and investigated for efficacy. Numerous studies have examined the efficacy of nipple creams, but there is no published data describing patterns of use in breastfeeding women.Aim: To describe the use of topical nipple treatments by a cohort of first-time mothers in AustraliaMethods: A cohort of 360 nulliparous women were recruited in Melbourne, Australia, and the question, “In the last week, have you used any creams or ointments on your nipples?” was included in a questionnaire on breastfeeding practices administered at 6 time points.Results: In the first week after giving..