The effect of breast care on breast milk engorgement and uterine involution among postpartum mothers

Abstract

Breast milk engorgement is a condition characterized by breast swelling caused by increased venous and lymphatic flow, resulting in milk stasis and pain accompanied by elevated maternal body temperature. Meanwhile, uterine involution refers to the process of the uterus returning to its pre-pregnancy state. One of the key factors that facilitate uterine involution is breast care, particularly through oxytocin massage, which stimulates uterine contractions by rubbing the scapular and spinal regions. This contraction of uterine smooth muscles promotes uterine involution after childbirth. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of breast care on breast milk engorgement and the uterine involution process among postpartum mothers at TPMB Tri Widiyawati S.Keb, Lawang District, Malang Regency. This quantitative research employed a pre-experimental design using a non-randomized control group pretest–posttest approach with a static t-test technique. The study involved 30 postpartum mothers selected through accidental sampling based on inclusion criteria. Data collection used observation and standard operational procedure (SOP) sheets. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses with a t-test (α = 0.05). The results showed a significant effect of breast care on reducing breast milk engorgement and accelerating uterine involution (p = 0.000 < 0.05). The conclusion of this study is that breast care with breast milk dams and the uterine involution process in postpartum mothers are affected.