INTERVENTIONS TO TREAT BREASTFEEDING COMPLICATIONS: BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS

Abstract

Purpose: To develop evidence-informed best practice recommendations for postpartum women to reference when experiencing breastfeeding complications such as nipple trauma, pain, and soreness. Background: Breastfeeding is the optimal source of nutrition for infants as it provides nutrients and immunological support tailored to the infant’s needs. Approach to Practice: The best practice recommendations are based on a literature review that was conducted through a search on Google Scholar, PubMed, and the Health Sciences Library. Articles were filtered between the years 2010 to 2020. The literature selection process included the following keywords: breastfeeding interventions, nipple shield, lanolin oil, proper positioning, breastfeeding complications, and nipple pain. Ten articles were included in the literature review section of this thesis. Outcomes: The proposed best practice recommendations are for all postpartum mothers to reference in order to prevent or reduce breastfeeding complications. The hypothetical implementation will be evaluated based on the effect of the infographic created and the breastfeeding outcomes of the women after discharge. Conclusions: Although proper positioning, lanolin oil, and were beneficial for women experiencing breastfeeding complications, further research is needed to solidify the benefits of these therapeutic modalities.