MEME DOLGUNLUĞU (ANGORJMAN) GELİŞEN ANNELERDE LAHANA UYGULAMASININ ETKİSİ

Objective: The study aimed to determine the impact of cabbage application on pain, breast tissue relief, amount of the milk pumped and anxiety level in mothers suffering from engorgement and their satisfaction with cabbage application.Methods: The study was conducted with 18 mothers who had an infant hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and suffered from engorgement on both breasts. The study data were collected using the “Mother’s Introduction Form” and State-Trait Anxiety Scale. Cabbage was applied to one breast of the mothers for two hours. No application was performed on the other breast. Then both breasts were milked via an electronic milking pump at the same time and at the same vacuum and speed. Following this procedure, both breasts of the mothers were reevaluated in terms of pain, relief, satisfaction level, amount of the milk pumped and anxiety level.Results: Examining the impact of engorgement experienced by the mothers on breastfeeding or milking procedures; 27.8% of them were affected less, 27.8% moderately and 44.4% highly. According to the findings acquired from the study data; the mothers suffering from engorgement had a lower pain severity on the breast receiving cabbage application and lower state anxiety scale scores than the breast not receiving cabbage application. Also it was found that the relief and satisfaction levels and the amount of milk increased significantly.Conclusions: Cabbage application can be recommended to mothers suffering from engorgement. It can also be recommended that healthcare professionals be trained on this matter.