Table 1

Comparison of the severity of nipple and areola cracks in mothers using peppermint water and expressed breast milk


Peppermint water group
(n = 90)
n (%)
Breast milk group
(n = 90)
n (%)
p value from χ2 test

Areola crack



No crack
88 (98)
85 (94)
0.07
Mild
1 (1)
0 (0.0)

Moderate
1 (1)
0 (0.0)

Severe
0 (0.0)
5 (6)


Nipple crack



No crack
84 (93)
71 (79)
1.01
Mild
3 (3)
3 (3)

Moderate
3 (3)
8 (9)

Severe
0 (0.0)
8 (9)


Overall nipple and areola crack
8 (9)
24 (28)
< 0.001

Sayyah Melli et al. International Breastfeeding Journal 2007 2:7   doi:10.1186/1746-4358-2-7