Breast pain in lactating mothers

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Lactation Consultancy
• Public Health

Background:

• Increasing rates of breastfeeding necessitate adequate medical services for lactating mothers.
• Breast pain is a prevalent issue for mothers seeking medical assistance.
• Current medical services may be insufficient to address the needs of breastfeeding mothers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causes and characteristics of breast pain in lactating mothers.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of current treatments for breastfeeding-related breast pain.
• To inform the development of improved healthcare services for breastfeeding mothers.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 69 patient records from a private lactation clinic over 6 months.
• Assessment included pain details, prior treatments, feeding practices, and clinical examination.
• Interventions involved relieving blockages, prescribing antibiotics for persistent pain, or surgical referral for abscesses.

Main Results:

• Blocked duct was the most frequent diagnosis (35/69 patients).
• Many patients (31/69) had received unsuccessful prior antifungal or antibacterial treatments.
• Other diagnoses included mastitis (13), breast abscess (6), and poor latch (7).

Conclusions:

• Blocked ducts are the primary cause of breast pain, potentially leading to mastitis or discontinuation of breastfeeding if untreated.
• The findings suggest a need for dedicated public breastfeeding clinics in Hong Kong.
• Establishing specialized clinics can enhance services, support professional training, and facilitate research in lactation care.