Elseody, M. H. A. A., Mohamed, M. A. E., & Alsharnoubi, J. (2024). Could Photobiomodulation help lactating women and their newborns? Lasers in medical science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-024-04132-w
Elseody MHAA, Mohamed MAE, Alsharnoubi J. Could Photobiomodulation help lactating women and their newborns? Lasers in medical science. 2024. doi:10.1007/s10103-024-04132-w
Elseody, Maha Helmy Ammar Ahmed, et al. "Could Photobiomodulation help lactating women and their newborns?" Lasers in medical science, 2024.
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Free full text on PubMed Central (PMC11269476)
RRM Academy Synopsis
Photobiomodulation reduced nipple pain more than cream in a trial
In a randomized trial of 50 breastfeeding women with painful, cracked nipples, light therapy lowered nipple pain and inflammation more than a topical cream over four weeks. Infant weight was also higher in the light therapy group.
Key Findings
Fifty breastfeeding women, aged 20 to 35 and 1 to 2 weeks after delivery, were randomized to 25 in each group; all 50 completed the study.
Pain score at week 4: 1.68 ± 0.69 with photobiomodulation against 5.48 ± 0.51 with the cream (P = 0.001).
Redness at week 4: 3 of 25 women (12%) with photobiomodulation against 10 of 25 (40%) with the cream (P = 0.02).
Hotness at week 4: 2 of 25 women (8%) with photobiomodulation against 8 of 25 (32%) with the cream (P = 0.03).
Infant weight was higher in the photobiomodulation group at weeks 2, 3 and 4 (P = 0.001 at each); inflammatory signs did not differ at weeks 1 and 2.
Interpretation
The study is a randomized controlled trial at one Cairo clinic, with 25 women per group. Both groups started with similar pain and inflammation. The authors used infant weight as an indirect marker of milk supply and conclude that less pain led to more milk. The comparison was against one topical cream, and the authors describe the weight result as the first of its kind.
RRM Context
Restorative reproductive medicine considers the whole woman, including the postpartum months. Light-based care works with the body's own tissue repair. This trial adds controlled data on a problem that often ends breastfeeding early.
Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.
Abstract
During the first several weeks following lactation, nipple pain frequently prevents mothers from continuing breastfeeding. To evaluate the efficacy of using Photobiomodulation (PBM) versus anti-inflammatory topical cream, on inflamed nipple, and the effect on milk production. This study was carried-out on 50 breastfeeding women with nipple pain and fissure. Our patients were divided into two groups ; study group (Group I): 25 patients received 12 sessions of PBM using Diode laser for a period of 4 weeks, 3 sessions per week every alternative day, and controlled group (Group II): 25 patients used Anti-inflammatory topical cream. Regarding inflammatory signs in both groups, Group I showed a significant decrease in redness compared to Group II at the 3rd and 4th week, and a significant decrease in nipple fissure and pain at the 3rd week. There was a significant increase in milk amount reflected on the infant's weight. We concluded that PBM was more effective in decreasing nipple pain, inflammation and subsequently milk production and infant weight than topical anti-inflammatory creams.
Therapeutics › Emerging Therapies › Light Therapy · Postpartum › Infant Feeding › Breastfeeding Support · General Gynecology › Breast Health › Benign Breast Conditions
Maha Helmy Ammar Ahmed Elseody, Marwa Abd El-Rahman Mohamed, Jehan Alsharnoubi
M Elseody, M Mohamed, J Alsharnoubi
PMID 39046567 39046567 DOI 10.1007/s10103-024-04132-w 10.1007/s10103-024-04132-w Elseody MHAA et al. 2024, Elseody MHAA 2024
