Effects of Acupoint Stimulation with Digital Massager of Oxytocin on the Breast Milk Production of Working Mothers
Abstract: Many breastfeeding
mothers find that their milk production decreases or even stops when they
return to work due to reduced breastfeeding hormones. Massage can stimulate the
oxytocin hormone, and to replace the manual massage, a digital massager of
oxytocin (DMO) is developed.
Purpose: This study aimed to identify the effects of the DMO on the milk
production of the breastfeeding working mothers.
Methods: This study employed a quasi-experiment with pretest-posttest
control group design. The samples were 93 breastfeeding working mothers in the
community with a baby below 6 months. The samples were assigned into the
intervention group (n=46) and the control group (n=47). An intervention of
using the DMO was given to the mothers in the intervention group by applying
the electrodes on the first intercostae of BL-17 and Bl-18 acupoints for 20
minutes in 3 consecutive days. Meanwhile, a standard treatment was given to the
control group. Breast milk expression was carried out before and after the use of
DMO. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney and the Wilcoxon tests.
Results: The results showed that there were differences in the volume of
the expressed breast milk before and after the use of the DMO (p=0.00). The
mothers in the intervention group increased their milk production on an average
of 23 ml when other variables affecting the breastfeeding were controlled.
Conclusion: The DMO stimulated and increased the milk production of
working mothers. It can also be an alternative to the complementary therapy,
especially for the nursing care management of breastfeeding mothers.
Keywords: Oxytocin; working
mothers; milk production; oxytocin massager
Penulis: Anggorowati, Heriandi
Sutadi, Setyowati, Raldi Artono Koestoer
Kode Jurnal: jpkeperawatandd160481
