Examining the effectiveness of breast care methods performed by using olive oil, breast milk and keeping clean/dry to prevent nipple problems during breast feeding period

The first nutrient during infancy which affects the future experiences of individuals profoundly is breast milk. In order for infants to receive breast milk sufficiently, it is necessary to prevent or cure problems that may affect the continuity of the act of breast feeding negatively. This study was implemented for the purpose of comparing the effectiveness of breast care methods performed by using olive oil, breast milk and keeping clean/dry to prevent nipple problems in mothers during breast feeding period. The study was carried out in the randomized-controlled experimental design with 120 primipara mothers who had had natural birth in the gynecology and obstetrics clinics of a private and a public hospital in the province of Afyonkarahisar between March 2018-September 2018. In the study consisting of two experimental groups and one control group; breast care had been applied to the mothers in the olive oil group with 3-4 drops of olive oil three times a day throughout 14 days and to the mothers in the breast milk group with 3-4 drops of their own milk after every breast feeding throughout 14 days. No application was performed in the nipple and areola area in the mothers in the control group and they were made keep the nipple clean and dry after breast feeding. All the mothers were either invited to a check appointment or visited at home on the 3rd, 7th and 14th days and follow-up data were collected from them concerning the presence/severity of pain during breast feeding, presence of chapping, rush-sensitivity on both nipples and areola, effectiveness of breast feeding, presence of a side effect in relation to the breast care method used and the mothers' satisfaction with the breast care method applied. The study data were analyzed using the SPSS version 22.0 with frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square test and two-factor one-way analysis of variance in repetitive measurements. In respect to the effectiveness of breast feeding, it was determined that the mothers' LATCH score averages showed a significant difference between the groups only on the 14th day; on the other hand, the LATCH score averages showed a significant difference within the breast milk and olive oil groups in all measurements on the 3rd, 7th and 14th days (p<0.05). On the follow-up days, it was determined that pain severity score averages of the mothers in the control group were higher than the mothers in the experimental group; pain severity score averages showed a significant difference between the groups on the 7th day and the mothers in the olive oil group had significantly lower pain severity score averages than those in the control group (p<0.05). It was determined that the pain severities measured on the 3rd, 7th and 14th days in the breast milk and olive oil groups had similar percentages of change toward decreasing, whereas in the control group, the pain severities showed a change toward increasing. In respect to the prevalence of chapping, bleeding, rush and sensitivity on both nipples and areola; it was determined that there was a significant difference between the groups on the 7th and 14th days; the group with minimum chapping on the 7th day was the olive oil group and on the 14th day, there was no chapping, bleeding, rush and sensitivity on both nipples and areola outside the control group (p<0.05). It was determined that the score average for chapping encountered in the nipple and areola area to affect breast feeding was significantly higher in the control group on the 7th day, compared to other groups (p<0.05). In respect to breast care method, it was determined that satisfaction score averages of the mothers showed a significant difference between the experimental and the control group on the 7th and 14th days and the change in the satisfaction score averages of the mothers in the olive oil group was greater than other groups and the satisfaction showed a change toward decreasing in the control group. It is possible to conclude that breast care performed by using breast milk and olive oil in mothers in the breast feeding period is effective on reducing pain and breast care performed by using olive oil is effective on preventing the development of nipple problems such as chapping, bleeding, rush and sensitivity and breast care methods which provide a humid environment indirectly affect the breast feeding comfort of mothers positively.