breast care

1. BREAST CARE
Prepared by-
JOISY S JOY
Lecturer
Mai Khadija Institute of Nursing Sciences, Jodhpur.

2. Definition
• Breast care is a procedure to clean and prepare the breast tissue and nipple during pregnancy
and lactation for feeding an infant.

3. Purposes
• As a preparation for breast feeding
• To promote lactation
• To prevent trauma and infection of the nipple and breast
• To teach the mother about the hygiene of the breast
• To enhance circulation
• To promote comfort of the mother

4. Indications
• To examine the breast for cracked nipples, inverted nipples and engorgement.

5. Principles
• Far to near
• Clean to unclean
• Circular motion

6. Nursing process
Assessment
• Assess the general condition of the mother
• Check for the colostrum
• Assess for cracked nipples, inverted nipples, sore nipples and engorgement
Preparation of environment
• Provide privacy
• Ensure adequate lighting
• Arrange articles near bedside
Preparation of mother
• Explain the procedure to the mother
• Expose the breast and drape it with the help of towel.

7. Preparation of equipment
Articles
A clean tray containing:
• Big bowl
• Kettle with warm water
• Bath thermometer
• Sponge clothes
• Towel
• Small bowl containing gauze
• Kidney tray
Purpose
• To provide breast care
• To provide breast care
• To check the temperature of water
• To provide breast care
• To cover the breast
• To clean the nipple and express colostrum
• To discard the soiled gauze and squeeze the
water

8. Procedure
1. Place mother in supine position.
2. Wash hands.
3. Cover the breast with a clean towel.
4. Assess both the breast for size, shape, color and consistency
5. Assess the nipple for
• Inverted/cracked nipples
• Sore nipple
• Breast engorgement
6. Palpate the farthest breast from center to periphery by using the pad of fingers in a circular motion and
cover the entire breast and with the axilla and perform same steps for the nearest breast.

9. 7. Check the temperature of the water and pour it in a bowl
8. Express the colostrum
9. Clean the nipple and the areola in a circular motion with the help of wet gauze.
10. Clean the breast tissue in a circular motion from center to periphery by using the wet cloth in a circular
motion and cover the entire breast and breast folding, end with the axilla.
11. Dry the breast with a clean towel
12. Expose and clean the other breast as mentioned above
13. Document the name of mother, age, obstetrical score , date and time of delivery and milk secretion.

10. THANK YOU