After Caesarean Section Oxitocin Breast Massage Anthropometric Characteristics of the Newborn

Background: Delays in breastfeeding and milk release after cesarean section may negatively affect the early initiation of breastfeeding and the mother's breastfeeding self-efficacy.

Research Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of breast and oxytocin massage after cesarean section on the anthropometric characteristics of the newborn and breastfeeding self-efficacy.

Methods: The study was conducted in a single-blind randomized controlled type and 126 mothers who delivered by cesarean section in the postpartum department of a private hospital in Istanbul/Turkey were randomized into three groups as 42 breast massage, 42 oxytocin massage and 42 control group.

Mothers who had a cesarean delivery and were in the first 24 hours after birth were divided into three separate groups: breast massage, oxytocin massage and control group. Data Collection Form, LACTH, Infant Follow-up Form and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale were applied to all mothers included in the sampling in the postpartum period.

Oxytocin massage group: The mother was positioned on a chair with her breasts bare and free, placing her arms on the table at her height and her head on her arms. The researcher who applied the massage applied the massage up and down to either side of the spine between the mother's scapula bones with her thumbs in front and pressing her fists tightly and making small circular movements with her thumbs for three minutes. The mothers received four oxytocin massages over the course of 24 hours.

Breast massage group: The mother's upper clothes were removed by the researcher. With the palms of the hand the breast grasped from the bottom and top. The hands were advanced by pressing slowly from the base of the nipple towards the nipple. With the palms, the breast was grasped from the bottom and top and gently pressed. Using fingertips, the breast was scanned by massaging from the base of the nipple to the nipple in circular movements. The mothers received breast massage four times over the course of 24 hours.

Control group: Mothers were discontinued from routine care at the clinic.

Inclusion criteria

• The study included mothers between the ages of 18 and 35, who were primiparous, due (37-42 GW) and cesarean section, who could understand and speak Turkish, who had no anatomical problems with their breasts, and who were in the first 24 hours after birth.

Exclusion criteria

• Mothers with communication problems, having a chronic illness, breastfeeding related problems (breast or newborn) and mothers with newborns with IUGR or genetic disease were not included in the study.