Breast shells for pain and nipple injury prevention: A non-randomized clinical trial

This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of breast shells in preventing pain and nipple injury during breastfeeding.

A non-randomized clinical trial was carried out with blinding to the evaluators of the study results. The study included women with ≥35 weeks of singleton pregnancy, no nipple changes, and a desire to breastfeed. Resulting in 62 lactating women. The experimental group used breast shells and health education with clinical demonstration (n = 29), whereas the control group used no breast shells (n = 33). Pain and nipple injury were assessed three times, twice prenatally and once up to 14 days postpartum.

Nipple injury (50.0%) and nipple pain (67.7%) presented with similar frequency in both groups (p = 1). Breast engorgement (35,5%) was associated with nipple pain (p = 0.019) and its onset was delayed in the experimental group (p = 0.001). Health education contributes to breast and nipple care and increases favorable breastfeeding patterns.

Breast shells do not prevent nipple pain or injury.

As far as we know, this is the first clinical research evaluating the use of breast shells since the antenatal care to prevent the occurrence of nipple pain and injury.