Publication

Abstract : Massaging the breast may help a postnatal mother to improve breast milk production, alleviate breast engorgement and facilitate breast milk expression. The purpose of the present study was to identify the effect of breast massage on breast milk expression in terms of volume of breast milk expressed, pain during breast milk expression and experience of breast milk expression among mothers of neonates admitted in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Materials and methods: The quasi-experimental study was conducted among 30 postnatal mothers whose babies were admitted in NICU, selected as a sample of convenience. The design used was time series research design. After the pretest, breast massage was taught to the mothers by the investigator. Breast massage was performed for 10 minutes prior to each expression. The practice of breast massage and breast milk expression is observed by the investigator using a checklist during the next expression. Volume of breast milk expressed and pain during breast milk expression were assessed three times before and after the intervention using a standardized measuring cup and numerical pain scale respectively. The experience of breast milk expression was assessed before and after intervention using breast milk expression experience measure. Analysis was done using mean, frequency, percentage and paired t-test. Major findings: The results show that the mean pretest volume of milk expressed in milliliters was 7.33 ± 4.86, which increased to 15.56 ± 8.38 (t = 4.22, p = 0.001) after the intervention. The mean pretest pain score was 7.50 ± 1.42 which decreased to 5.01 ± 1.37 (t = 11.73, p = 0.001) after the intervention. The experience of breast milk expression in post-test 37.6 ± 3.88 was significantly higher than pretest 28.4 ± 4.73 (t = 11.25, p = 0.001). Conclusion: The study findings conclude that the breast massage is effective in increasing the volume of expressed breast milk, reducing the pain during breast milk expression and improving the experience of breast milk expression.