Maternity Nursing Q 144
To enhance milk production, a lactating mother must do the following interventions, except:
A. Increase fluid intake including milk.
B. Eat foods that increase lactation which is called galactagogues.
C. Exercise adequately like aerobics.
D. Have adequate nutrition and rest.
Correct Answer: C. Exercise adequately like aerobics.
All the above nursing measures are needed to ensure that the mother is in a healthy state. However, aerobics does not necessarily enhance lactation.
Option A: It is widely assumed that milk production requires a high fluid intake on the part of the mother, yet the evidence suggests that lactating women can tolerate a considerable amount of water restriction and that supplemental fluids have little effect on milk volume. However, thirst may sometimes function too slowly to prevent dehydration among women with high fluid losses resulting from exercise or high ambient temperature (experienced by many women without air conditioning in the summer).
Option B: A galactagogue or galactogogue (pronounced gah-lak´tah-gog) is something that can help a breastfeeding mother to increase her breast milk supply. The word itself is a combination of the Greek terms “galact-” meaning milk, and “-agogue” meaning leading to or promoting. Herbs are commonly used to boost low milk supply, but certain actions, foods, and medications can help a breastfeeding mom make more breast milk as well.
Option D: Maternal anxiety and stress, which may be exacerbated by poor lactation management, are believed to influence milk production by inhibiting the milk-ejection reflex. This reflex usually operates well in women who are relaxed and confident of their ability to breastfeed. In tense women, however, the reflex may be impaired. Early studies in humans by Gopalan (1958) and Edozien et al. (1976) suggest the same relationship: milk output of women in India and Nigeria increased when protein intake was increased from 50 to 60 g/day to approximately 100 g/day.