ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effects of breast massage at different time periods on lactation yield and breast feeding success rate.Methods:240 pregnant women who gave birth at scheduled time in The First People's Hospital of Wenling from January 2018 to May 2019 were included in this study. They were randomly divided into control group, observation group 1 and observation group 2 ( n = 80/group). The control group was only given routine nursing after delivery without breast massage. The observation group 1 received breast massage at 2 hours postpartum based on routine nursing. The observation group 2 received breast massage at 24 hours postpartum based on routine nursing. Breast comfort rate, the time to lactation, lactation yield at 1 and 3 days after intervention were compared between groups. The number of daily vomiting, crying and fecal empties at 4 days postpartum were compared between groups. The success rate of breastfeeding and the increases in neonatal body mass and height at 42 days postpartum were determined in each group. Results:Breast comfort rate in the control group, observation group 1 and observation group 2 was 71.25% (57/80), 93.75% (75/80) and 83.75% (67/80), respectively. There was significant difference in breast comfort rate among the three groups ( χ2 = 26.466, P < 0.05). The incidence of postpartum breast problem in the control group, observation group 1 and observation group 2 was 27.50% (22/80), 5.00% (4/80) and 15.00% (12/80), respectively. There was significant difference in the incidence of postpartum breast problem among the three groups ( χ2 = 10.478, P < 0.05). The time to lactation in the control group, observation group 1 and observation group 2 was (33.54 ± 7.28) hours, (5.56 ± 2.01) hours and (22.32 ± 4.23) hours, respectively ( F = 27.897, P < 0.05). There was significant difference in the time to lactation between groups ( F = 27.897, P < 0.05). The lactation yield in the observation group 1 and observation group 2 was significantly greater than that in the control group ( F = 6.208, 10.458, both P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the number of daily vomiting, crying and fecal empties at 4 days postpartum among the three groups ( F = 71.54, 9.26 and 10.45, all P < 0.05). The success rate of breastfeeding in the observation group 1 was 93.75% (75/80), which was significantly higher than 85.00% (68/80) in the observation group 2 and 75.00% (60/80) in the control group ( χ2 = 7.841, P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the increases in body weight and height of newborns among the three groups at 42 days postpartum ( F = 10.645, 5.789, both P < 0.05). Conclusion:Breast massage at 2 hours postpartum can greatly increase the comfort rate of maternal breast, effectively reduce the incidence of postpartum breast problem, shorten the time to lactation, increase the amount of postpartum lactation yield, and the success rate of breastfeeding.