Thank you Jean - so true. I am shocked that the moms I see for the first time postpartum - hardly touch their breasts! It seems they are not taught or shown how to use their hands therapeutically.  Touching the breast, becoming familiar with them as a dynamic organ is a foreign concept which is a shame. This is so necessary for the health of the breast in regards to blood flow, lymphatic drainage and milk flow, not to mention for breast CA screening.

I spend plenty of time on RPS and breast massage/compression during my prenatal bf classes and involve the husbands this way as " breast massage therapists" 
( which they are more than happy to be) using these techniques from day one. Also I am big on teaching hand expression as an alternative to pumping for relief.

I see a lot of people and have a very low incidence of mastitis and/or plugged ducts by keeping it simple - "Follow your baby, Feel your breasts -  don't ignore either one"  Mothers would be better served if taught these techniques prior to delivery and then reinforcing these skills in the hospital.  It would avoid a lot of undue angst once they get home.

Maria Parlapiano RN IBCLC
Chatham, NJ

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