Lactation Management Techniques Flashcards

A mother on postpartum day 3 has severe, pitting edema causing her breasts to be very firm and her areolae to be taut and swollen, preventing her infant from latching. Which of the following techniques should the IBCLC teach the mother to use immediately before attempting to feed?

Answer: Performing Reverse Pressure Softening (RPS) on the areola.

Reverse Pressure Softening (RPS) is a technique that uses gentle positive pressure to temporarily move swelling away from the areola. [4, 14, 24] This softens the area, allowing the nipple to become more protractile and making it easier for the infant to achieve a deep latch. Warm compresses can increase blood flow and may worsen edema, while high-pressure pumping can cause trauma and further swelling. Suggesting formula is not a technique to address the physical barrier to latching.

When assessing for proper breast pump flange fit, which of the following is the primary indicator of a correct size?

Answer: The nipple moves freely in the flange tunnel without excessive rubbing, and only a minimal amount of areolar tissue is drawn in.

A well-fitted flange allows the nipple to move freely within the tunnel, stimulating it effectively without causing pain or drawing in excessive areolar tissue, which can compress milk ducts. [10, 19, 22] A flange that is too large will pull in too much of the areola, while one that is too small will cause the nipple to rub painfully against the sides of the tunnel. [19, 22] Bra size has no correlation to flange size.

An IBCLC is creating a care plan for a mother and her 36-week gestation infant. The infant is sleepy at the breast, feeds for only 5-10 minutes before falling asleep, and has had only two wet diapers in the last 12 hours. The mother's milk is beginning to increase in volume. Which management plan is MOST appropriate for this dyad?

Answer: Suggest the mother breastfeed first, then pump to protect her supply and provide any expressed milk to the infant, while waking the infant to feed at least every 2-3 hours.

Late preterm infants are at high risk for inadequate milk transfer due to sleepiness and uncoordinated sucking. [7, 9] The most appropriate plan is a three-pronged approach: 1) feed at the breast for stimulation and practice, 2) pump to protect and build the maternal milk supply, and 3) supplement the infant with the expressed milk to ensure adequate intake and prevent dehydration. [3, 20] Waking the infant for feeds every 2-3 hours is crucial. [3, 16] Relying on infant demand alone is unsafe for this population.

Which of the following is a core principle of paced bottle-feeding for a breastfed infant?

Answer: Keeping the bottle mostly horizontal to the floor and allowing the infant to take pauses to control the milk flow.

Paced bottle-feeding aims to mimic the flow and control of breastfeeding, helping to prevent overfeeding and flow preference. [6, 8] Key principles include holding the infant upright, using a slow-flow nipple, and keeping the bottle horizontal so the infant must actively suck to draw milk out, rather than having it flow by gravity. [21, 28] This position also allows the infant to take natural pauses, just as they would at the breast. [8, 28]

A client who had breast reduction surgery five years ago is breastfeeding her 2-week-old infant. The infant nurses 10-12 times a day with an apparently good latch but is showing signs of slow weight gain. What is the MOST important initial step in managing this situation?

Answer: Perform pre- and post-feeding weights to accurately assess milk transfer and determine the need for supplementation.

Breast reduction surgery can disrupt nerves and ductal tissue, potentially limiting milk production capacity. [1, 12, 13] The priority is to obtain objective data on how much milk the infant is actually transferring from the breast. [1] Pre- and post-feeding weights (test weights) provide this crucial information. This data will then guide the development of a care plan, which may include strategies to maximize her supply and supplementation with her own milk or formula if necessary. [29] Reassurance without data is unsafe, and interventions like galactagogues or cessation are premature without a clear assessment of milk transfer.

When teaching a mother hand expression using the Marmet technique, what is the correct sequence of actions?

Answer: Placing the fingers behind the areola, pressing back toward the chest wall, then compressing and rolling forward.

The Marmet technique involves a specific three-part motion: 1) Place the thumb and fingers about 1-1.5 inches behind the nipple. 2) Press straight back into the chest wall. 3) Compress the breast and roll the fingers and thumb forward toward the nipple. [27, 33, 34] This sequence effectively drains the milk sinuses located behind the areola without causing pain or tissue damage. Sliding fingers can cause skin burn, and squeezing the nipple is painful and ineffective. [27, 33]