Effect of two different nursing care approaches on reduction of breast engorgement among postnatal women

Abstract

Background: Breast engorgement is a painful and unpleasant condition that affects huge numbers of women in the early postpartum period. It is associated with unsuccessful breastfeeding, early breastfeeding cessation, mastitis and inflammation of the breast. So, there is a need to increase awareness regarding efficiency of different nursing interventions as; warm compresses and cold cabbage leaves to treat breast engorgement. Aim: was to reduce the level of breast engorgement among postnatal mothers and to compare the effect of warm compresses versus cold cabbage leaves on breast engorgement.

Subjects and methods: A Quasi-experimental (equivalent pre-posttest group) research design was adopted. Setting: this study was conducted at postnatal ward and outpatient clinic at El-Manial Maternity hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Subjects: A purposive sample of 90 postnatal women randomly assigned into two groups. Tools: Four tools were used:1)Structured interviewing questionnaire, 2) Six- points engorgement scale, 3)Visual Analog Scale and 4) LATCH breastfeeding scale.

Results: The mean age of the sample was 26.6±4.3 years old. More than twenty percent of each group was suffered from firm and tender breasts (22.2%& 28.9%). Also there was a statistical significant differences between the pre and post symptoms of breast engorgement, levels of breast engorgement, pain score and engorgement score for both groups (p< .05*).Hence both the interventions were effective in relieving pain and reducing breast engorgement.

Conclusion: an application of cold cabbage leaves and warm compresses are effective for relieving breast engorgement but the cold cabbage group was improved regarding symptoms and levels of engorgement better than the warm compresses group. In addition, there was a statistical significant difference between the pretest and posttest of pain score and engorgement score for both groups (p < .001*).Recommendations: Nurses should be trained to include different nursing approaches for managing breast engorgement in their discharge plan. Also early detection and nursing care to prevent breast complications should be done for all postnatal women.