Abstract
Introduction: Many mothers are given an episiotomy during a normal vaginal delivery. There are many alternative interventions used by the community to heal the episiotomy wound. Applying breast milk topically to a wound is simple, free of charge and has no side-effects. Breast milk contains therapeutic qualities that aid in the healing of wounds. Aim: To evaluate the effect of topical breast milk application on postpartum women’s episiotomy wound healing. Materials and Methods: This pretest, post-test quasi-experimental study was conducted in three selected health centres of Central Gujarat from February 2022 to March 2022. Using a pretest, posttest control group design, the quantitative quasi-experimental study design was used. A total of 40 postnatal women were recruited for experimental (20) and control group (20). Intervention of topical application of breast milk was offered two times a day for seven continuous days in experimental group and routine care was provided to participants in control group. Participants of experimental and control group was assessed using Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge and Approximation (REEDA) scale on 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th day. Descriptive and inferential statistics was applied to analyse the data. Results: A total 40 postnatal mothers participated in the present study with mean age of 23.05±3.80 years. Topical application of breast milk displayed positive effect on episiotomy wound healing in experimental group. The result exhibited that the experimental group’s episiotomy wound healing significantly improved (before: 14.75±0.55, after: 4.55±1.32) as compared to the control group (before: 14.65±0.59, after: 9.35±1.46). Conclusion: The study proved that there was a significant gradual healing of episiotomy wound after the use of breast milk topically in postpartum women. This also indicates that human breast milk can be an alternative strategy for accelerating episiotomy wound healing process.
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