Title: Management of Common Breastfeeding Problems
1Management of CommonBreastfeeding Problems
Breastfeeding Residency Curriculum Prepared by
Andrew Hsi MD, MPH and Larry Leeman MD,
MPH University of New Mexico School of Medicine
2Breastfeeding Assessment
- Before being able to address breastfeeding
problems, the physician needs to assess
breastfeeding by observing the infant feeding at
the breast. - See the Basic Breastfeeding Assessment
presentation - The following presentation discusses how to
further assess for a particular problem and
administer treatment to the breastfeeding dyad.
3Objectives
At the end of this presentation the learner will
be able to discuss
- Assessment of ineffective breastfeeding due to
causes associated with the newborn oral cavity,
breast anatomy, disorganized suckle,
ankyloglossia, and milk transfer - Assessment of ineffective breastfeeding due to
less common causes including disorganized suckle
and ankyloglossia - Monitoring of hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice
- Assessment of dehydration in context of poor
feeding and/or low milk supply - Diagnosis and management of the delay or failure
of lactogenesis II - Galactogogue use
- Evaluation for blocked nipples, engorgement, and
milk oversupply - Diagnosis and treatment of mastitis, breast
abscess, and candidal breast infections
4Assessment of Newborn Oral Cavity
- Palpation for hard and soft palate defects
- Visual of gingivae, sublingual areas including
- Attachment of sublingual frenulum
- Movement and elasticity of tongue
- Gloved finger in babys mouth assesses function
- Nail bed placed at lower gum ridge to assess
excursion - Rule out inability to compress milk ducts
5Assessment of Breasts
- Breasts should be assessed during a prenatal
visit to prepare the mother for any issues that
may arise due to breast anatomy - Rule out uncommon breast abnormalities
- Breast enlargement/reduction surgery
- Breast hypoplasia tubular breasts, unilateral
hypoplasia - Gigantomastia
- Awareness of potential anatomic mismatch
- Large nipple with small baby
- Perceived problems influence feedings
Reference 19, 27
6Breast Assessment Uncommon Conditions
Secondary Displasia s/p radiation Rx s/p breast
surgery s/p severe mastitis/abscess
Primary Hypoplasia - insufficient mammary
glandular tissue - nulliparous state (adopted
infant) - unilateral or bilateral breast
anomalies
7Breast Injury and Surgery
- Reduction Mammoplasty likely to have difficulty
producing enough milk, especially with
periareolar incisions - Augmentation Mammoplasty compatible with
successful breastfeeding - Lumpectomy may affect breastfeeding if
significant nerves or ducts have been removed - Previous Treatment for Breast Cancer radiation
after lumpectomy may interfere with lactation.
Mother can usually breastfeed on an unaffected
breast - Trauma and Burns varies, but many people with
severe trauma and burns to the breast have been
able to breastfeed with success - Pierced Nipples not associated with
breastfeeding difficulties. Nipple devices should
be removed before feeding
Reference 38
8Disorganized Suckle
- Term babies have because
- Coordination problems
- Hypotonia
- Hypertonia
- Preterm babies may have
- Neurologic immaturity
- Disorganized sucking excessive external
stimulation - Weaker muscles in mouth and tongue
9Suckle Problems Ankyloglossia
- Presents as ineffective latch or nipple pain
- Lactation specialist consult if possible
- Assessment by Hazelbaker Tool
- Significant ankyloglossia when
- Appearance score lt 8 and Function score lt 11
- Attention to changing position on breast
- Care of mothers nipples to prevent injuries
10Reliability of Assessment
- Hazelbaker Tool in research
- Appearance items moderate reliability
- First 3 function items substantial agreement
- Lateralization, lift, and extension of tongue
- The items for infant sucking low reliability
- Suggest using first 3 function items only
- Clinical agreement high for frenulotomy
Reference 5
11Frenulotomy Studies
- Study using well designed enrollment
- Frenulotomy improved feeding
- Mothers reported relief from pain
- Improved latching
- Study of 24 older babies (33 28 days)
- Ultrasound studies found
- Better position of nipple against palate
- More milk transfer, less maternal pain
Reference 5,7,23
12Breastfeeding and Hyperbilirubinemia Guidelines
- All infants routinely monitored for jaundice
- Accurate gestational age intensively monitor
late preterm - Jaundice while breastfeeding
- Kernicterus would be largely preventable
Reference 2,3
13Breastfeeding Preterm or Late Preterm Infants and
Hyperbilirubinemia
- Jaundice in late preterm infants results from
- Increased bilirubin due to increased bilirubin
production - Decreased bilirubin elimination
- Insufficient breast milk intake even when moms
milk established - Inability to ingest larger volumes of breast milk
- Hyperbilirubinemia in late preterm infants
- Increased incidence
- Increased severity
- Longer course
- Increased risk of deleterious consequences
Reference 12,13
14Management for Early Jaundice in Breastfeeding
Infants
- Close clinical observation for jaundice
- Largely related to insufficient breast milk
intake - Initiate early and frequent breastfeeding
- Discourage water, dextrose water, and unnecessary
formula supplements - If supplementing with formula, consider using SNS
or finger feeding to continue the establishment
of lactation - Monitor weight, breastfeeding, urine, and stool
- Refer to AAP guidelines for management of jaundice
Reference 3,27,21
15Management of Breastmilk Jaundice
- Cause not defined
- Breastfeeding successfully established yet
hyperbilirubinemia persists beyond the fourth
week of life - No clear reason to intervene if baby thriving
- Recommendation 7.3 AAP guidelines for
management of jaundice - If infant requires phototherapy, breastfeeding
should be continued if possible - Option to temporarily interrupt breastfeeding and
substitute formula to reduce bilirubin levels and
enhance efficacy of phototherapy - Breastfed infants being treated with phototherapy
can be supplemented with expressed breast milk or
formula if needed
Reference 3, 17, 27
16Summary for Early Detection of Risk for
Hyperbilirubinemia
- Good gestational age assessment
- Review of physiologic risk factors
- Early breastfeeding initiation
- Monitoring of latching on feed every 23 hours
- Use of LATCH score, similar objective tool
- Direct observation of latching for near term
- Screen every baby for jaundice
17Assessment of Milk Sufficiency
- Not enough milk stops breastfeeding
- Visual cues for feeding interaction
- Baby eagerly seeks breast, latches on, feeds
- Baby body tone relaxes
- Mothers body tone relaxes
- Auditory confirmation of swallowing
- Weight gain around arrival of mothers milk
- 090 days median gain 2631 g
- 90180 days median gain 1718 g
Reference 15, 27
18Assessment for Slow Weight Gain Versus Failure To
Thrive
- Slow weight gain
- Generally alert and healthy
- Good skin turgor and muscle tone
- Failure to thrive
- Generally apathetic, crying, not satisfied
- Poor tone, constant rooting
- Weight loss continued or no weight gain
Reference 16, 27
19Test-weighing To Assess Nutritive Breastfeeds in
Failure To Thrive Infant
- Weigh naked baby
- Before and after breastfeeding episode
- May help assess adequacy of breast milk intake
- Rationale for diagnostic test
- Review of 32 studies found
- Regardless of whether the clinical assessments
were performed by nurses, mothers, or lactation
educators, the differences between the clinical
estimates and the test weight estimates of milk
intake were large and random.
Reference 29, 37
20Dehydration and Breastfeeding
- Rare, but severe condition
- Among exclusively breastfed term infants
- Weight loss gt 10 in first 3 days of life
- 1/3 with hypernatremia
- Maternal factors
- Infant factors
- Close follow up breastfeeding dyads required
- Daily weight evaluation
- Careful breastfeeding assessment
Reference 16
21Management of Dehydration Associated with
Breastfeeding Problems
- Review maternal history, medications
- Assess infant feeding history, urine and stool
output - Examine infant, skin turgor, capillary refill
- Observe infant on breast
- Stat lab studies
Reference 32
22Lactogenesis II
- Lactogenesis I Initiation of milk production
which occurs in second trimester of pregnancy - Lactogenesis II Postpartum initiation of high
volume milk production which occurs as transition
from low volume colostrum - Usually at 3040 hours postpartum
- Subjective feeling of breast fullness
- Day five term infant receive 500 to 750 cc of
milk compared to lt 100 cc/day prior to
lactogenesis II - If lactogenesis II has not occurred by postpartum
day 5, then delay or failure is present
Reference 11, 24, 34, 35
23Problems with Lactogenesis II
- Delayed extended time between colostrum and full
milk production - Failed unable to achieve full lactation due to
either primary inability to produce or issues
with breastfeeding or infant health - Can lead to hypernatremic dehydration which can
rarely progress to neurologic injury, seizures,
renal failure, thrombosis, and death
Reference 33, 42
24Causes of Delayed Lactogenesis II
Any circumstance that leads to delayed,
infrequent, or ineffective milk removal
- Delay in first breastfeeding oral or IBV infant
feeding - Low breastfeeding frequency-poor stimulation
- Psychosocial stress/pain
- Unscheduled cesarean or stressful labor/delivery
- Less common etiologies secondary to maternal
disease - Maternal obesity
- Maternal diabetes or hypertension-etiology unknown
Reference 24
25Causes of Failed Lactogenesis II
- Breast surgery or injury
- Retained placenta
- Hypothyroidism
- Theca lutein ovarian cysts
- Mammary hypoplasia (congenital)
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Sheehans syndrome secondary to postpartum
hemorrhage
Reference 24, 33
26Galactagogues
- Used to increase breast milk supply
- Need to attempt to determine the etiology of low
milk supply prior to initiation - Ensure proper breastfeeding technique prior to
use - Only use galactogogues with adequate milk removal
by nursing or electrical pumping or milk stasis
will occur - Consider need to evaluate for medical co
morbidities e.g., hypothroidism, retained
placental fragments, theca lutein ovarian cysts
Reference 41
27Galactagogues
- Metoclopramide most commonly used
- Domperidone not approved in USA. Similar to
metoclopramide but less side effects as little
crosses blood brain barrier - Fenugreek and other herbal medicines no
scientific data except anecdotal reports
Reference 9, 14, 18, 22
28Metoclopramide
- Benefit shown in small placebo controlled
crossover study with increase of 50 cc per feed
with dose of at least 30 mg per day - Effect is to increase prolactin level
- Side effects gastrointestinal, anxiety,
sedation, and rare dystonic reactions - No documented neonatal reactions
- Short term 13 weeks is common. No evidence
supporting long-term use. Usually wean after
1014 days - A common dosing regimen is 10 mg po qd first day,
then 10 mg po bid, then 10 mg po TID
Reference 9, 25
29Excess Milk Supply
- Much less common problem than low milk supply
- Minimal medical literature
- Maternal symptoms continual engorgement, leaking
and increased mastitis risk - Infant regurgitation and reflux symptoms.
Development of poor sucking technique
30Management of Excess Milk Supply
- Attempt to offer just 1 breast at each feeding
to decrease stimulation and produce milk stasis
in the other breast to decrease production
Reference 43
31Plugged Ducts
- Tender lump
- Predisposing factors
- Positions that dont empty breast
- Underwire bras
- Predispose to mastitis with possible continuum
from engorgement to blocked ducts to inflammatory
mastitis to bacterial mastitis - Treatment
- Ensure complete drainage
- Massage
- Warm packs
- Position changes
Reference 1
32Mastitis
- Infection of the breast usually caused by
Staphylococcus aureus - Risk factors plugged ducts, untreated
engorgement, cracked nipples, missed feedings,
excessive fatigue, decreased resistance to
infection - Common occurring in 510 of breastfeeding women
- Most common in first month
- Recurrences occur in 819 of women and commonly
(25) leads to lactation cessation
Reference 8, 44
33Mastitis History and Physical Exam
- Fever, diffuse myalgias, flu-like symptoms,
breast pain - Wedge-shaped, tender, erythematous, usually
unilateral - Upper, outer quadrant most common
34Mastitis Treatment
- DO NOT stop breastfeeding on the affected side,
empty the breast - If mild, symptoms occur for less than 24 hours
and may attempt to resolve with frequent nursing
or pumping and supportive measures including bed
rest, fluids, analgesics - Antibiotic options include dicloxicillin 500 mg
po qid cephalexin 500 mg po qid, or clindamycin
300 mg po qid for 10 to 14 days - Observe carefully for signs of abscess formation
Reference 1, 20, 39
35Breast Abscess
- 3 of mastitis cases develop into an abscess
- P.E. tender, hard breast mass, fluctuant,
erythematous - Incision and drainage, antibiotics, analgesia,
frequent emptying - Alternative needle aspiration every other day
until pus no longer accumulates. Recommended as
first line - Culture fluid from abscess
Reference 4
36Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus and Breast
Abscess in Lactating Women
- Incidence of mastitis and breast abscess from
community acquired MRSA appears to be increasing
with up to 50 in some studies - gt 95 are community not hospital acquired MRSA
- Most seem to resolve even when given antibiotic
that community acquired MRSA is resistant to - Draining breast by manual pumping and/or
breastfeeding for mastitis or incision and
drainage of abscess may be most important part of
treatment
Reference 26, 31, 36, 40, 46
37Nipple Candidal Infections
- Not uncommon, but often misdiagnosed
- Nonspecific signs and symptoms
- Nipple pain, itching, or burning sensation or
shooting breast pains that radiate back towards
the chest wall (possibly ductal candidal
infection may persist or worsen after feeding is
complete and breast is drained) - Nipple and areola may appear erythematous or
shiny or have white patches - There could be NO external signs
Reference 38
38Causes of Nipple Candida
- Predisposed factors
- Diabetes
- Steroid use
- Immune deficiency
- Antibiotic use
- Nipple trauma
- Use of plastic-line breast pads that trap moisture
39Treatment of Candidal Nipple Infections General
- Difficult to prove that Candida is the causative
organism in all situations (milk or skin cultures
are not helpful and should not be performed
routinely) - Infant usually has thrush when mother has
candidal infection - Treat mother and infant simultaneously (the
mothers partner may also need to be treated in
some instances) - Sterilize objects that contact breast or infants
mouth pumping supplies, bottles, and pacifiers - Maternal treatment nystatin suspension/ cream or
clotrimazole applied after each nursing. No need
to wash off before feeds - Infant nystatin (100,000 u/ml) 1 cc po qid
inside mouth to breast after each nursing
Reference 10
40Treatment of Candidal Nipple Infections Other
Options
- Gentian Violet a topical treatment option that
uses 0.251 gentian violet swabbed on the
affected areas for up to 3 days - Oral fluconazole may be prescribed if nipples
are not significantly better after several days
of topical treatment, or in cases of reoccurrence
41Correlation Between Breast Symptoms and Candida
in Breast Milk Cultures
- gt 70 PPV for shiny skin of nipple areola with
stabbing breast pain OR flaky skin of
nipple/areola with breast pain - gt 50 PPV with 2 of the 6 symptoms (sore nipples,
burning nipple/areola, breast painful
nonstabbing, breasts painful stabbing, shiny
skin, flaky skin)
Reference 16, 21
42Ductal Yeast Infection
- Lack objective findings on exam as nipple and
skin may not be involved - Lack reliable microbiologic tests
- Decision to treat based on deep burning/shooting
breast pain without other causes - Potential for overdiagnosis
Reference 10, 45
43Treatment of Ductal Yeast Infection
- Will not respond to topical medicines
- Treatment is usually fluconazole 100200 mg po qd
for 1421 days, although not FDA approved for
this indication - Need studies of diagnostic criteria and
effectiveness - Need to treat infant with oral nystatin as well
for thrush or colonization
44Summary Breastfeeding Problems
- Problems are common and treatable
- Assess adequacy of suckle and milk
production/transfer - Neonatal jaundice and dehydration are associated
with breastfeeding problems - Treat engorgement and blocked nipples to prevent
mastitis and abscesses - Bacterial and candidal infections can adversely
affect breastfeeding
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