Hi! Someone asked about any new information about these dressings at ILCA. There was one research project that was a part of the poster session. It studied the MaterniMates hydorgel dressings for prevention of sore nipples during the initiation phase of lactation in ten primiparous women. Pain scale measurments as well as physical examinations of wound prevention were completed on 10 subjects on Days 1, 3, and 7 post partum. Findings included a decrease in self-reported pain scores on Day 3, and 7. Reduction in nipple soreness related to inflammation was noted within 24 hours and all patients with nipple trauma healed in a maximum of 3 days. In addition, a strong correlation between the patient comfort score and dressing use was identified. Follow up data showed no incidence of adverse reaction or increased rate of infection. No patients withdrew from the study and all subjects were continuijng to breastfeed at 2 months postpartum. 

This study had a very small sample size and there were no comparison groups. Regarding infections, these results differed from Brent(1998) who also studied hydrogel dressings. In her study there were significantly more infections with the hydrogel dressings. Dressings were slightly different in each study. In the former study, the material in the dressing was poly-urethane-based hydrophilic hydrogel and in the latter the dressing was glycerine-based hydrogel. Also in the Brent study, the dressings were compared to Lanolin and breast shells. Both were effective, but there was greater improvement in the group using breast shells and lanolin. What do people currently use when nipples are sore and cracked?  

Carol L'Esperance RN, MSN, IBCLC

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