“Effectiveness Of Cabbage Leaves Fomentation On Pain And Discomfort During Breast Engorgement Among Postnatal Mothers – A Pre-Experimental Study.”

Abstract

Introduction: Breast engorgement is one of the most common breast complications that occur mainly on third or fourth post partum day. It is a painful condition that affects large number of postnatal mothers. Cabbage leave fomentation is a natural way of treating breast engorgement, which reduces maternal morbidity and helps to improve lactation.

Objective: Study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of cabbage leaves fomentation on pain and discomfort during breast engorgement among postnatal mothers

Methodology: 50 postnatal mothers with breast engorgement were selected through convenience sampling technique. Numerical pain scale, Discomfort rating scale including Demographic Performa was used for the data collection and the collected data was analyzed with the descriptive and inferential statistics.

Result: The study revealed during pre-test 76.7% of the participants had severe pain and 23.3% had moderate pain and during post test after the intervention 73.3% of the participants had no pain and 26.7% of the participants had mild pain with the Mean difference of 7.46. It shows that the cabbage leave fomentation is effective in reducing pain of breast engorgement among postnatal mothers (p < 0.01). During pre test 50% of the participants had severe discomfort and 50% had moderate discomfort and during post test 83.3% of the participants had mild discomfort and 16.7% of the participants had moderate discomfort with the mean difference of 28.06. It shows that the cabbage leave fomentation is effective in reducing discomfort of breast engorgement among postnatal mothers (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: The study finding revealed that cabbage leaves application was effective in reducing pain and discomfort during breast engorgement.