[Characteristics, frequency and factors present in nipples damage occurence in lactating women]

Our objectives were to verify the occurrence of nipple damage, according to the newborn and mother characteristics; to characterize the suction pattern of newborn, whose mothers present nipple damage. The sample was of 1020 lactating women and their infants, and of them, 84 were followed up by the researcher. It was verified that the gestational age of the newborn, the skin color, parity and the type of anesthesia received by the mothers during the labor were statistically significant for the occurrence of nipple damage. Only 5.95% of the newborn revealed appropriate grasp and dynamic suction, increasing to 43.33% at the first appointment after hospital discharge. The most of women presented complete healing of lesion from 5 to 6 days postpartum, this indicate that this period of a week is critical, when the mother needs stimulation and follow-up to the maintainance of lactation.