Common problems Encountered during Lactation and their Management in a Lactation Management Center

Background: Breastfeeding is widely known to be beneficial for infants and the mothers and also economically advantageous for the community. Objective: The principal purpose of this study was to explore the common problems encountered during lactation and their management in a lactation management center. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted at lactation management center of Institute of Child and Maternal Health (ICMH), Dhaka. A total of 100 lactating mothers were recruited consecutively during the period of August 2008 to October 2008. Data was collected by history taking and required examination. Result: In this study, 46.0% mothers complained of poor milk secretion, 13.0% had breast engorgement, 9.0% had cracked nipple, 3.0% had inverted nipple, 2.0% had nipple infection, 2.0% had flat nipple, 1.0% had sore nipple, 1.0% had breast abscess and in 23% cases there was no reasonable cause. During interview twenty seven percent of the mothers were advised to start nursing as soon as possible; 45.0% mothers breast fed on demand, 75.0% mothers demonstrated proper breast feeding technique, 36.0% mothers avoided use of artificial milk, 10.0% mothers applied last part of milk on nipple, then dry by exposing to air, 12.0% mothers manually express milk from the areola before breast feed if it is engorged and 1.0% advised to slip the index or little finger into the infant’s mouth between his/her gums before the infant is taken off of the breast, to break suction. Conclusion: Almost half of the mothers complained of less milk production. Apart from this 13.0% mothers had breast engorgement, 9.0% mothers had cracked nipple and no reasonable cause for lactation problem was found in 23.0% cases. More than half of the mothers had incorrect knowledge and skill of breast feeding.