Breast Related Problems

Question 1

Mastitis- risk factors

Answer 1

• engorgment and milk stasis
• decrease or missed feedings
• stress and fatigue
• cracked or fissured nipples
• plugged ducts
• abundant milk supply
• breast trauma, tight bras, manual pumps, poor nutrition, vigorous exercise

Question 2

Mastitis - what is is, signs and symptoms

Answer 2

• inflammation of breast
• tender, hot, seollon, wedge-shaped area of breast
• fever (101.3 or greater)
• chills
• flu-like aching
• usually benign, self-limiting
• usually unilateral, upper outer quadrant

Question 3

Mastitis treatment

Answer 3

• effective milk removal
• application of moist heat
• increased fluids
• bedrest
• antipyretics
• at times antibiotics with penicillinase resistant penicillins, cephalosporins, or clinda
• milk cultures if no response to antibiotics in 2 days or repeated mastitis

Question 4

Recovery from mastitis

Answer 4

• salty milk due to excess sodium chloride

- temporary resting phase, produces less milk

Question 5

Eczema - symptoms and types

Answer 5

• pain, burning itching
• redness, eruption of vesicles, crusting, oozing
  1. Atopic dermatitis
  2. Irritant contact dermatitis
  3. Allergic contact

Question 6

Treatment for eczema

Answer 6

• topical corticosteroid - apply after feedimg

- carefully wipe off nipple before feeding

Question 7

Interventions for rashes and infections

Answer 7

• discontinue possible irritants
• take frequent showers
• cotton bras
• expose breasts to sunlight for 15 min and air
• apply medicated cream after feeding, clean nipple before
• rinse nipple area with warm water after each feeding then pat dry, then air dry with blow dryer

Question 8

Herpes simplex virus

Answer 8

• very painful
• tiny vesicles on reddened nipple and areola
• pump milk until vesicles heal

Question 9

Thrush - symptoms

Answer 9

• persistently sore
• burning, itching, shooting or stabbing pain that radiates to the chest wall
• sudden onset after normal painless breastfeeding

Question 10

Thrush causes

Answer 10

• can transfer to baby mouth during delivery then to mom’s breast
• women receiving antibiotic therapy
• women who have vaginal candidiasis
• nipple trauma

Question 11

Thrush diagnosis

Answer 11

• nipple inflammation - striking deep pink
• sometimes tiny blisters
• severe discomfort during and after feedings
• baby may have diaper rash - raised red pustules
• child may be asymptomatic or unusual (fussiness)

Question 12

Thrush interventions

Answer 12

• air dry nipples and expose to sunlight a few minutes twice a day
• throw away breast pads
• dry external genitalia with a hair dryer on a warm setting
• cotton bra and underpants
• avoid baths with other fmaily members
• restrict alcohol, cheese, bread, wheat, sugar, honey
• acidophilus
• use condoms

Question 13

Nipple blister interventions

Answer 13

• less invasive - immerse in warm water to soften, then rub with damp cloth.
• for pain - ice pack, analgesic, topical antibiotic
• compress around the areola to express out any stringy plugs
• more invasive- break epithelial tissue with needle, maybe aspiration

Question 14

Gigantomastia

Answer 14

• massive enlargening of breasts resulting in tissue necorsis, ulceration and infection
• early weeks of pregnancy
• maybe hormonal