Reverse Pressure Softening of Areola: It’s Effect on Breast Engorgement and Newborn Feeding Behavior among Puerperal Mothers

Saadoon, Om Hashim Mahmoud Mahmoud; Saadoon, Maha Mahmoud Mahmoud; Elmashad, Hanan A Wad M

doi:10.21608/asnj.2024.295442.1835

Reverse Pressure Softening of Areola: It’s Effect on Breast Engorgement and Newborn Feeding Behavior among Puerperal Mothers

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor of Woman's Health and Midwifery Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt.

² Assistant Professor of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Damietta University, Egypt.

10.21608/asnj.2024.295442.1835

Abstract

Background: Breast engorgement is a serious and painful health problem. Reverse pressure softening of areola helps in pushing fluid back, empowers the nipple to protrude better, reduce breast engorgement and enhance newborn feeding behavior. Aim: Evaluate the effect of reverse pressure softening of areola on breast engorgement and newborn feeding behavior among puerperal mothers. Design: Quasi experimental pre & posttest study design was used. Study sample: A purposive sample of ninety puerperal mothers were allocated to either the intervention or the control group, with forty-five mothers in each group. Setting: The study was conducted at postpartum wards and Gynecological outpatient clinic, Mansoura University Hospitals, Egypt. Four tools were used: A structured interview questionnaire, six-point breast engorgement scale, visual analogue scale & LATCHES newborn feeding behavior. Results: At posttest two 37.8% of the intervention group had normal breast compared to 11.1% in the control group and 77.8% had adequate newborn feeding behavior in the intervention group vs. 6.7% in the control group. Highly statistical decrease in levels of breast engorgement, breast pain and improved newborn feeding behavior in favor of the intervention group at posttest one and two (p= 0.001). Conclusion: Reverse pressure softening of areola was an effective method in reducing breast engorgement, breast pain and improving newborn feeding behavior among puerperal mothers. Recommendations: Raising awareness of puerperal mothers regarding the beneficial effect of reverse pressure softening of areola on breast engorgement and newborn feeding behavior.

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