Final answer:
A mother with sore breasts during breastfeeding can be advised by a nurse practitioner to nurse frequently, ensure proper latch, use cold packs or warm compresses, and perform breast massages to alleviate soreness and engorgement. Hormonal changes in the mammary glands facilitate milk production and ejection.
Step-by-step explanation:
A mother experiencing sore breasts on the fourth day of breastfeeding may be dealing with common initial breastfeeding challenges such as engorgement, where the breasts become overly full of milk, or the baby may not be latching correctly, which can lead to discomfort and soreness. To alleviate these symptoms, the nurse practitioner (NP) should advise frequent nursing to help regulate the milk supply, ensure proper latch technique, and suggest the application of cold packs or warm compresses to relieve discomfort. Additionally, the NP might recommend gentle breast massages to stimulate milk flow and prevent blocked milk ducts, which can lead to further complications like mastitis. The mammary glands in the mother's breasts undergo significant changes during pregnancy and breastfeeding to prepare for and support milk production. The release of hormones like prolactin and oxytocin during breastfeeding facilitates milk production and ejection, and the milk composition adjusts over time to meet the growing infant's nutritional demands.