The reason additional breast hygeine is recommended before applying 
soothies is that in one study, increased risk of infection was found 
with this product when used on sore nipples. Washing is an important way 
to prevent wound infections. Other studies did not find an elevated risk 
of infection with soothies. The study that did had moms use a new pair 
after every feeding, which might have pulled off some skin. Soothies and 
Medela's hydrogels are the stickiest on the market, making this more 
likely to happen. This is why Medela recommends using their lanolin too, 
to reduce the risk of injury on removing the hydrogels, and perhaps to 
sell  each mother two redundant products. Ultrapurified anhydrous 
lanolin and hydrogel/glyceringel pads are both effective alone for moist 
wound healing.

Catherine Watson Genna BS, IBCLC  NYC  cwgenna.com


On 2/15/2011 12:06 PM, germaine lambergs wrote:
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Lambergs, Germaine, R.N.<[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 9:41 AM
> Subject: FW: Washing the breast before using soothies
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Lambergs, Germaine, R.N.
> Sent: Wed 2/9/2011 6:04 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Washing the breast before using soothies
>
>
>
> Hi, can anyone help me  to find out why the mother has to wash her breast
> before
> using the soothies. I thought they are for sore nipples and to have her wash
> her
> breast every time makes for more tenderness. I called the lansinoh customer
> service and they said it is because they are sticky. We were taught that
> they
> leave no residue on the breast. I work in a hospital based setting and we
> have
> to have evidence based information for our guidelines as much as possible. .
> Also in reading lactnet I read that one can use the Medela lanolin with the
> Medela jells , but we are using the Medela lanolin on the lansinoh jel pad
> if
> the mother so wishes. Is this correct technique. Thank you so much for all
> of
> your help in the past and present . Germaine lambergs
>
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