Betsy Foxman has a wonderful new paper out (prospective, longitudinal,
sample size of close to 1,000) that looks at incidence of mastitis and risk
factors for mastitis over the first 3 months postpartum.

B Foxman, H D'Arcy, B Gillespie, J Bobo, K Schwartz: Lactation Mastitis:
Occurrence and Medical Management among 946 Breastfeeding Women in the
United States, Am J Epidemiol 2002; 155(2):103-116.

Among it's many interesting findings was that nipple pain was almost
universal in the first week postpartum, but for most women rapidly resolved.

This seems to support Mary Zeimer's observations.

I wish that some of the non-US members (particularly those working with
indigenous populations would chime in with their perceptions about whether
this is an observed phenomenon other places.)  I know that in her paper,
Cathy Fetherston briefly discusses that Aboriginal women have fewer bfg
problems, which may be an expression of greater familiarity of correct
positioning and latch (as the result of doll play, observation of older
women nursing, etc).

Barbara Wilson-Clay BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
http://www.lactnews.com

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