Comparison of the Effect of Olive Oil, Aloe Vera Extract and Breast Milk on Healing of Breast Fissure in Lactating Mothers: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Breast fissure is a common problem in lactating mothers, which causes early discontinuation of breastfeeding. This study was performed to compare olive oil with aloe vera extract and breast milk on pain severity and breast fissure in lactating mothers.
In this clinical trial, 90 lactating mothers with breast fissure in Gonabad city (2015), were divided into three groups of 30 subjects using random allocation. In the first group, mothers rubbed 0.5ml of olive oil and in the second group 0.5ml of Aloe vera extract and 3-4 drops of their milk on nipple and areola 3 times a day, after each breastfeeding. The third group rubbed 3-4 drops of milk on the nipple and areola after each breastfeeding. The visual analog scale (for determining pain severity) and store scale (for determining intensity of breast fissure), were completed at the first day (before intervention), the third day (during intervention), and the seventh day (end of intervention). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
At the end of the intervention, there was significant differences among the three groups in terms of the pain severity and breast fissure, so that pain severity and breast fissure was least in the group received aloe vera extract. There was no significant difference between breast milk and olive oil groups.
The findings of this study revealed that olive oil, Aloe vera extract, and breast milk reduce pain severity and breast fissure in lactating mothers, but aloe vera extract is more effective than olive oil and breast milk.