The Effects of Sustainable Lactation Support and Partner Endorphin Massage

During the research process:

Assignment to Groups and Randomization Randomization will be achieved using the sealed envelope technique.

Control Group; Women participating in the research as the control group will be asked to complete the Informed Consent Form, Personal Data Collection Form, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, and Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale. No intervention will be performed on the women in the control group. They will be called back to the hospital on the 10th day after discharge for postpartum follow-up and a face-to-face interview. During the interview, participants who come to the hospital will be asked to complete the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale, and Mother-Infant Bonding Scale. One month later, participants will be contacted again by phone; the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale, and Mother-Infant Bonding Scale will be completed via a mobile communication platform, and the research will be concluded. Both the control and experimental groups will receive routine breastfeeding support during their hospital stay, within the framework of baby-friendly hospital practices. However, breastfeeding support will not be continued after discharge for the control group.

Experimental Group:

Women participating in the experimental group will complete the Informed Consent Form, Personal Data Collection Form, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, and Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale. After discharge, sustainable and individualized breastfeeding support will be provided to the experimental group by a midwife via a mobile communication network. During their hospital stay, the first endorphin massage will be performed by the researcher for 10-15 minutes, and the partner will also be taught how to do it. Before discharge, the partner will be asked to perform the endorphin massage again, and the endorphin massage performed by the partner will be observed by the researcher. Any missing questions or questions the partner may have will be answered by the researcher during this process. The participant will be instructed to perform endorphin massage twice a week, once a day for 10-15 minutes, and a reminder message will be sent. Upon discharge, the participant will be given a Massage Follow-up Form prepared by the researcher. The front of the massage follow-up form will contain step-by-step visuals explaining the endorphin massage, and the back will contain a chart for the participant and their partner to mark. Participants will be instructed to mark their answers on the massage follow-up form after each endorphin massage application at home. Women in the experimental group will receive sustainable breastfeeding support from the researcher throughout the research period (from the day of participation until the end of the first month). Sustainable breastfeeding support will be individualized and provided via a mobile communication platform. The woman's information needs regarding breastfeeding and massage will be met, and solutions to any problems she encounters will be offered with a personalized approach, involving both the woman and her partner in the process. Women will be called back to the hospital for a follow-up appointment on the 10th day after discharge (or the first working day if it falls on a weekend) for a face-to-face meeting. Participants will be asked to bring the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Forms with them when they come for their follow-up appointment. Participants arriving at the hospital will be asked to complete the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale, and Mother-Infant Bonding Scale via a mobile communication platform by the researcher. One month later, participants will be contacted again by phone to have them complete the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale, and Mother-Infant Bonding Scale again via the mobile communication platform, and the research will conclude.

Inclusion criteria

• Having a normal delivery at a State Hospital
• Having given birth for the first time
• Having a normal vaginal delivery
• Having undergone a first or second-degree episiotomy (incision)
• Not having any abnormalities during the delivery process (prolonged labor, meconium aspiration, pathological deceleration, etc.)
• Giving birth to a single child,
• Having a live-born baby,
• The baby being healthy
• The mother and baby being together,
• Neither the mother nor the baby having a chronic illness
• Not having a psychiatric illness and not using psychiatric medication
• Living with one's spouse,
• Having reading, writing, and comprehension skills in Turkish
• Volunteering to participate in the study and signing the informed consent form
• Owning an Android phone

Exclusion criteria

• Having undergone an assisted delivery (vacuum, forceps, cesarean section)
• Not being in your first pregnancy
• Developing complications during labor (prolonged labor, meconium aspiration, pathological deceleration, etc.)
• Having undergone a deep episiotomy (incision)
• Giving birth to multiple babies
• Stillbirth
• Having a condition that requires separation from your baby
• Being separated from your spouse
• Having a chronic illness in yourself and your baby
• Having a baby with anomalies
• Having a psychiatric illness and using psychiatric medication
• Lacking reading, writing, and comprehension skills in Turkish
• Refusing to participate in the research
• Not having an Android phone Research Termination Criteria
• Mother or baby being hospitalized
• Partner not applying endorphin massage
• Participant withdrawing from the study