Optimizing the Endorphin and Oxytocin Massage to Increase Breast Milk Production among Postpartum Mother in Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is the gold standard of infant feeding in the first six months of their life. In Indonesia, breastfeeding practice has become a social norm among women. However, some women have experienced inadequate breast milk production especially in the first and second days after birth. This study aimed to investigate the effect of endorphin and oxytocin massage on breast milk production among primiparous postpartum women and their baby weight.
 Methods: a quasi-experimental design was utilized with pre-test and post-test control group design. The population in this study were 175 postpartum mothers in Lawang Primary Health Care Indonesia. Forty postpartum mothers were selected and allocated to the intervention and control groups. Ten women were received endorphin massage, ten were given oxytocin massage, ten mothers were received the combination of endorphin and oxytocin massage and the remaining ten were allocated into the control group. The dependent variables were breast milk production and infant body weight, whereases the independent variables were endorphin massage, oxytocin massage and combination of endorphin and oxytocin massages. Data were analyzed by using t-test followed by One Way ANOVA Test with α = 0.05
 Results: The results indicated differences between the four group regarding the breast milk production and an increase in baby weight with p = 0, 00<α = 0, 05 and p = 0.046 <α = 0.05 respectively.
 Conclusion: According to the results, the combination of endorphin and oxytocin massage is the most effective technique to increase breast milk production among postpartum women and therefore, facilitating the baby weight gain in the first six months of their life.