A Study to Identify Problems of Lactation Among Postnatal Mothers During Early Post-Partum Period at Selected Hospitals of Bardoli Taluka of Surat District, Gujarat.

Abstract

Post-partum period is the period following child birth which lasts for 6 weeks. Early post-partum period lasts from child birth to 7 days. Breast feeding is universally recognised as the best way to feed an infant. Lactational problems are the complaints during initial puerperium which hinders breast feeding. Mother who is failing to breast feed is associated with increased risk of premenopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes & metabolic syndrome. The main objective of the study was to identify problems of lactation among the post-natal mothers during early post-partum period at selected hospitals of Surat district, Gujarat. Quantitativedescriptive research method was used for the study. Total 30 postnatal mothers irrespective of their gravidity, parity, mode of delivery, any complications in present pregnancy were selected by non-probability convenient sampling technique. Tool for the data collection comprises of questionnaire for socio demographic information and observation & inventory checklist for assessment of lactational problems. The data were collected by interview method and analysed with the help of descriptive statistics. Findings of the study revealed that 66.67 percent belonged to the age group of 21-30 years, 56.6 percent were following mixed diet pattern, 80 percent were primi gravida & para, 56.67 percent were having caesarian delivery, 83.33 percent were in the gestational age of 38-42 weeks, 43.33 percent were having 2nd postnatal day & 93.33 percent have initiated breast feeding after 30 min. With regards to the 'Agrave; ndings of lactational problems, 20 percent mothers had redness, 33.34 percent had swelling, 100 percent had tenderness, 56.67 percent had excessive hotness, 86.66 percent had hard mass, 19.99 percent had rashes on breast, 9.99 percent had inverted nipple, 58.89 percent mothers had pain in breast, 100 percent had heaviness in breast, 6.66 percent had burning sensation, 20 percent had itching on breast, 70 percent had breast discomfort, 100 percent had insuf'Agrave;cient milk supply and 6.66 percent had over stretching of breast. Study 'Agrave;ndings concluded that lactational problems are common in post-natal period. Identi'Agrave;cation of problems at earliest and helping the mother to deal with them is major responsibility of nurse.