Jean said: 

Gentle fingertips have been used by nursing mothers all over the world for
eons. Guided by a deeper knowledge of the normal microanatomy and neurology
of the nipple-areolar complex, we owe it to our moms to "First, do no harm."

 

I am always learning from our moms - and our co-workers!  This was the case
at our last Breastfeeding Coalition Meeting.

 

Our Vietnamese WIC Nutrition Assistant (WNA)  came to our Breastfeeding
Coalition meeting because, now that she has been helping mothers to
breastfeed, she remembered a traditional treatment for breast engorgement
and "slow milk flow".  

 

She has the mother cup her hand as if she were going to pour water into her
palm, then she has her place her hand over her nipple, and gently touch her
breast tissue all around the areola - very slowly massaging the breast and
the tissue below the skin.  She explains it as "adding heat from the hand to
the breast so that it will release the milk".  

 

That very afternoon I was able to see a smiling mother - and Dad holding a
totally milk-drunk baby -who had received these instructions.  Baby had been
unable to latch, she had used this "massage/pressure?" (I can't really call
it a massage in the sense that there is very gentle pressure applied) on the
breast, the milk began to flow and using laid back breastfeeding, baby was
able to latch on and nurse without causing pain to the mother.

 

Another tool that will "cause no harm" and may be a solution for some?

 

Jeanette Panchula, BA-SW, RN, PHN, IBCLC


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