open access
Non-nutritional “paramedical” usage of human milk — knowledge and opinion of breastfeeding mothers in Poland
, 2, 2, 3, 1
Affiliations- Departament of Neonatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland
- Neonatology and Neonate Intensive Care Students Scientific Association, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland
- Department of Paediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation, Oncology and Hematology, Wroclaw Medical Uniersity, Poland
open access
Abstract
Objectives: The objective of this study is to understand knowledge, attitudes and practices of non-nutritional breast milk
use among lactating women in respect of skin diseases and other frequent ailments.
Material and methods: The study, in the form of a questionnaire, spread on social media, was targeted at breastfeeding
women. The questionnaire consisted of questions regarding the knowledge of non-nutritional usage of human milk, its use
in practice, subjective opinion on the observed results and inclination towards future use. Chi-square tests and c-Pearson
coefficients were used for statistical calculations.
Results: A total of 1187 responses were acted upon. In the study group, 879 women claimed to have knowledge of
non-nutritional use of human milk in respect of skin and most common ailments, whilst 688 of them claimed to use at least
one usage. The most frequently, breast milk was used for: care of cracked nipples, care of healthy skin, treatment of diaper
dermatitis and treatment of neonatal acne. A correlation between duration of breastfeeding (p < 0.05) and gestational age
(p < 0.05) and practical use of non-nutritional human milk was found.
Conclusions: The study showed a great enthusiasm of mothers in respect of using breast milk for non-nutritional purposes,
including the treatment of skin diseases and other common ailments. However, given the scant studies determining possible
concerns surrounding these methods, there is a requirement for parental education with emphasis on the need for
prompt medical examination and pertinent treatment.
Abstract
Objectives: The objective of this study is to understand knowledge, attitudes and practices of non-nutritional breast milk
use among lactating women in respect of skin diseases and other frequent ailments.
Material and methods: The study, in the form of a questionnaire, spread on social media, was targeted at breastfeeding
women. The questionnaire consisted of questions regarding the knowledge of non-nutritional usage of human milk, its use
in practice, subjective opinion on the observed results and inclination towards future use. Chi-square tests and c-Pearson
coefficients were used for statistical calculations.
Results: A total of 1187 responses were acted upon. In the study group, 879 women claimed to have knowledge of
non-nutritional use of human milk in respect of skin and most common ailments, whilst 688 of them claimed to use at least
one usage. The most frequently, breast milk was used for: care of cracked nipples, care of healthy skin, treatment of diaper
dermatitis and treatment of neonatal acne. A correlation between duration of breastfeeding (p < 0.05) and gestational age
(p < 0.05) and practical use of non-nutritional human milk was found.
Conclusions: The study showed a great enthusiasm of mothers in respect of using breast milk for non-nutritional purposes,
including the treatment of skin diseases and other common ailments. However, given the scant studies determining possible
concerns surrounding these methods, there is a requirement for parental education with emphasis on the need for
prompt medical examination and pertinent treatment.
Keywords
breast milk; milk therapy; skin; constipation
About this articleTitle
Non-nutritional “paramedical” usage of human milk — knowledge and opinion of breastfeeding mothers in Poland
Journal
Issue
Article type
Research paper
Pages
79-84
Published online
2020-02-28
Page views
2664
Article views/downloads
1538
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Ginekol Pol 2020;91(2):79-84.
Keywords
breast milk
milk therapy
skin
constipation
Authors
Karolina Karcz
Julia Makuch
Mateusz Walkowiak
Igor Olejnik
Barbara Krolak-Olejnik
References (35)- Laskaris J. Nursing Mothers in Greek and Roman Medicine. American Journal of Archaeology. 2008; 112(3): 459–464.
- Komunikat Z Badań Nr 148/2016: Zdrowie Online CBOS, 2016. https://www.cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2016/K_148_16.PDF (1.03.2019).
- Piskorska-Jasiulewicz MM, Witkowska-Zimny M. Non-nutritional use of breast milk. Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2017; 71(0): 860–866.
- Horta BL, Victora CG. World Health Organization. Short-term effects of breastfeeding: a systematic review on the benefits of breastfeeding on diarrhoea and pneumonia mortality. World Health Organization . http://www.who.int/iris/handle/10665/95585 (1.03.2019).
- Horta BL, Victora CG. World Health Organization. Long-term effects of breastfeeding: a systematic review. World Health Organization 2013. http://www.who.int/iris/handle/10665/79198 (1.03.2019).
- Hill DR, Newburg DS. Clinical applications of bioactive milk components. Nutr Rev. 2015; 73(7): 463–476.
- Karcz K, Walkowiak M, Makuch J, et al. Non-Nutritional Use of Human Milk Part 1: A Survey of the Use of Breast Milk as a Therapy for Mucosal Infections of Various Types in Poland. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019; 16(10).
- Witkowska-Zimny M, Kamińska-El-Hassan E, Wróbel E. Milk Therapy: Unexpected Uses for Human Breast Milk. Nutrients. 2019; 11(5).
- Fernández L, Langa S, Martín V, et al. The human milk microbiota: origin and potential roles in health and disease. Pharmacol Res. 2013; 69(1): 1–10.
- Fitzstevens JL, Smith KC, Hagadorn JI, et al. Systematic Review of the Human Milk Microbiota. Nutr Clin Pract. 2017; 32(3): 354–364.
- Jones CA. Maternal transmission of infectious pathogens in breast milk. J Paediatr Child Health. 2001; 37(6): 576–582.
- Pammi M, O'Brien JL, Ajami NJ, et al. Development of the cutaneous microbiome in the preterm infant: A prospective longitudinal study. PLoS One. 2017; 12(4): e0176669.
- Vieira F, Mota DD, Castral TC, et al. Effects of Anhydrous Lanolin versus Breast Milk Combined with a Breast Shell for the Treatment of Nipple Trauma and Pain During Breastfeeding: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2017; 62(5): 572–579.
- Abou-Dakn M, Fluhr JW, Gensch M, et al. Positive effect of HPA lanolin versus expressed breastmilk on painful and damaged nipples during lactation. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2011; 24(1): 27–35.
- Akkuzu G, Taşkin L. Impacts of breast-care techniques on prevention of possible postpartum nipple problems. Prof Care Mother Child. 2000; 10(2): 38–41.
- Hewat RJ, Ellis DJ. A comparison of the effectiveness of two methods of nipple care. Birth. 1987; 14(1): 41–45.
- Buchko BL, Pugh LC, Bishop BA, et al. Comfort measures in breastfeeding, primiparous women. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 1994; 23(1): 46–52.
- Seifi B, Jalali S, Heidari M. Assessment Effect of Breast Milk on Diaper Dermatitis. Dermatol Reports. 2017; 9(1): 7044.
- Farahani LA, Ghobadzadeh M, Yousefi P. Comparison of the effect of human milk and topical hydrocortisone 1% on diaper dermatitis. Pediatr Dermatol. 2013; 30(6): 725–729.
- Gozen D, Caglar S, Bayraktar S, et al. Diaper dermatitis care of newborns human breast milk or barrier cream. J Clin Nurs. 2014; 23(3-4): 515–523.
- Kasrae H, Amiri Farahani L, Yousefi P. Efficacy of topical application of human breast milk on atopic eczema healing among infants: a randomized clinical trial. Int J Dermatol. 2015; 54(8): 966–971.
- Tan ETR, Tianco EAV. King- Ismael D, Dabay-Tan D. Comparison of the Efficacy of Topical Human Breast Milk versus Hydrocortisone 1% Lotion in the ical Improvement of Atopic Eczema in Infants: A Non-inferiority Trial. J Clin Investigat Dermatol. 2018; 6: 5.
- Berents TL, Rønnevig J, Søyland E, et al. Topical treatment with fresh human milk versus emollient on atopic eczema spots in young children: a small, randomized, split body, controlled, blinded pilot study. BMC Dermatol. 2015; 15: 7.
- Verd S, López E. Management of chickenpox with frozen mother's milk. J Altern Complement Med. 2012; 18(8): 808–810.
- Arnardottir H, Orr SK, Dalli J, et al. Human milk proresolving mediators stimulate resolution of acute inflammation. Mucosal Immunol. 2016; 9(3): 757–766.
- Kamińska E. Pielęgnacja kikuta pępowiny. Wytyczne Nadzoru Krajowego w dziedzinie neonatologii. Medycyna Praktyczna Pediatria. 2010; 2: 60.
- World Health Organization. Care of the Umbilical Cord: A Review of evidence (WHO/RHT/MSM/98.4) 1999 . http://euroband.com/Umbicut/article1.htm (1.03.2019).
- Patel E, Tiwari A. Effect of Topical Application of Breastmilk on Separation Time of Umbilical Cord among Newborn-A Literature Review. International Journal of Nursing Education. 2018; 10(2): 38.
- Ahmadpour-Kacho M, Zahedpasha Y, Hajian K, et al. The effect of topical application of human milk, ethyl alcohol 96%, and silver sulfadiazine on umbilical cord separation time in newborn infants. Arch Iran Med. 2006; 9(1): 33–38.
- El Ha, El Fa, Azzam H. Effect of Two Different Cord Care Regimens on Umbilical Cord Stump Separation Time among Neonates at Cairo University Hospitals. J Am Sci. 2011; 7: 920–926.
- Allam NA. The Effect of Topical Application of Mother Milk on Separation of Umbilical Cord for Newborn Babies. American Journal of Nursing Science. 2015; 4(5): 288.
- Hartono A, Purwanto N. Comparison Effectiveness Breast Milk and Dry Sterile Gauze to Treatment Umbilical Cord. Open Journal of Nursing. 2016; 06(02): 94–99.
- Subiastutik E. Topical Breastmilk Fasten the Process of Umbilical Cord Separation and Prevent Infection on Babies. IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science. 2017; 06(01): 45–50.
- Scholtens PA, Goossens DAM, Staiano A. Stool characteristics of infants receiving short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides: a review. World J Gastroenterol. 2014; 20(37): 13446–13452.
- Penn AH, Carver LJ, Herbert CA, et al. Breast Milk Protects Against Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Infants at High Risk for Autism During Early Development. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016; 62(2): 317–327.
