Effect of corrective measures and training for puerperal women with breastfeeding problems

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of training and corrective measures in postpartum women with breastfeeding difficulties.

Materials and methods: Quasi-experimental study. The study included postpartum women between 16 and 45 years of age, who had healthy newborns from 36 to 41 weeks of gestation. A questionnaire was applied, and obstetric and newborn history was obtained. The researcher witnessed breastfeeding for 10 min, to evaluate the way the mother breastfed the newborn: latching ability, audible swallowing, type of nipple, comfort and posture (LATCH scale); according to the problem identified, the mother was trained, and corrective measures were provided. A second evaluation was performed between the 3rd and 5th day. Descriptive and analytical statistics were performed (paired T, Wilcoxon Ranks, Mc Nemar, Hedges G test), considering statistical significance p < 0.05, using SPSS V25 statistical software.

Results: 150 pairs were included, median age of postpartum women was 26 years, 29.4 % were primigravidae, median age of the newborns was 39 weeks of gestation, weight 3030 grams. When comparing the pre and post intervention score, 77.3 % improved in the five domains of the LATCH scale (p <0.05), in 19.3 % there was no change and 3.3 % decreased their score in relation to the initial evaluation, the domains where the score decreased were comfort and type of nipple.

Conclusions: The LATCH scale is a simple, accessible tool that can be used to identify training needs and corrective measures; the presence of breast pain and nipple type may be a factor favoring early breastfeeding cessation.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; postpartum women; training.