Effect of Peppermint Water on Breast Crack
Effect of Peppermint Water on Breast Crack
To evaluate the effectiveness of a topical preparation of peppermint water in comparison with
 that of expressed breast milk for the prevention of nipple cracks in primiparous
 breastfeeding women.
One hundred and ninety-six primipara participants, who are breastfeeding after delivery at 38
 or more week gestation, were assigned randomly to 2 groups, with one of 2 regimens
 (peppermint water, an old household remedy, and no treatment only using breast milk) to right
 and left sides. Each group was followed for a maximum of 3 visits within 14 days and until
 the 6 weeks postpartum by telephone call. The aerial parts of Mentha piperita were purchased
 from Hakim Momen Tabrizi Company, and the identity was confirmed by morphological
 characterization in comparison with the herbarium specimen retained in the School of
 Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Also, a voucher specimen has been generated
 in that herbarium.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  New mothers with healthy term infants (38 weeks gestation or more) are eligible for
 recruitment into the study. The sample of breastfeeding mothers were collected in two
 cohorts according delivery type. Each group consisted of 98 primipara mothers.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Mothers who didn't plan to use peppermint water

 -  Discharged before an interview or had preterm delivery

 -  Postpartum fever

 -  Breast infection

 -  Nipple abnormalities

 -  Age less than 18 years

 -  Twins

 -  Taking medications at night

 -  Mothers who didn't have telephone line, and who were illiterate.

 -  Infants who used bottle-feeding or pacifier, or who had mouth infection, or an
 abnormal short frenulum.