The Effect of Warm Application to the Breast With the Aid of Thera Pearl on Milk Release and Breastfeeding Success

Breastfeeding and breast milk are very important in the protection and development of maternal and newborn health. Breast milk is a nutrient with unique immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against many diseases. The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund recommend continuing breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods until the age of 2, without any additional food for the first six months after birth, as the first condition of a healthy diet.

The World Health Organization announced that the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months is 44% worldwide in 2020. UNICEF reported that one in five babies in high-income countries and one in 25 babies in low- and middle-income countries are not breastfed at all.

Breastfeeding problems may occur for various reasons in the postpartum period. Breast fullness or late onset of milk production are among the most common of these problems. In cases where milk production is too high, breast fullness can be experienced, while milk production can be very slow in the opposite case. In both cases, early resolution is important in ensuring the sustainability of breastfeeding. The absence or late onset of milk production after birth causes the mother to be alarmed, interruption of breastfeeding, and ultimately feeding the newborn with formula. In the first 6 months of life, when the baby should receive only breast milk, feeding with formulas other than breast milk or different nutrients is an issue that needs to be addressed as it will adversely affect its growth and development. In this sense, milk production should be supported by making use of non-pharmacological methods in the postpartum period. Massage, herbal agents or hot water application are often preferred to increase milk production. Applying hot water to the udder is the most preferred way to increase milk production. The fact that it does not require much cost, does not contain any herbal or pharmacological agents and is easy to apply, also relieves the fullness of the breasts for the mother and increases milk production, increases the popularity of hot water application. As a matter of fact, in a study, it was determined that women who applied hot water to the nipples in the first 10 days after giving birth experienced less pain. When the relevant literature was reviewed, it was seen that there was no study using Thera Pearl, in which the warm application to the breast was usually done through a warm towel or hot water bag.

For the experimental group:

The first interview with women who gave birth will be held in the postpartum service of the relevant hospital. In this interview, Personal Information Form, Breastfeeding Observation Form (for the first 24 hours after birth), Bristol Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale and Insufficient Milk Perception Scale will be filled. At the same time, the phone and address information of the participants will be obtained in this meeting, and the postpartum 2-7. and 10-15. You will be informed that there will be a home visit on days.

Thera Pearl application will be explained to the woman in detail and the first application will be carried out together in the hospital.

Then the participant is postpartum 2-7. on days and 10-15. They will be visited at home once a day and their status of applying Thera Pearl will be questioned. In addition, the Breastfeeding Observation Form (for postpartum days 2-7 and 10-15), Bristol Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale and Insufficient Milk Perception Scale will be filled again.

For the control group:

No intervention will be applied to the control group. The first interview with women who gave birth will be held in the postpartum service of the relevant hospital. In this interview, Personal Information Form, Breastfeeding Observation Form (for the first 24 hours after birth), Bristol Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale and Insufficient Milk Perception Scale will be filled. At the same time, the phone and address information of the participants will be obtained in this meeting, and the postpartum 2-7. and 10-15. You will be informed that home visits will be made on the following days.

Then the participant is postpartum 2-7. and 10-15. Breastfeeding Observation Form (for postpartum days 2-7 and 10-15), Bristol Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale and Insufficient Milk Perception Scale will be filled in once a day.