A comparison of cabbage leaves vs . hot and cold compresses in the treatment of breast engorgement

Abstract

Objective:To assess and compare the efficacy of cold cabbage leaves and hot and cold compresses in the treatment of breast engorgement.Material and Methods:This was a quasi-experimental study conducted in the postnatal ward of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. The study comprised a total of 60 mothers;30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. The control group received alternate hot and cold compresses and the experimental group received cold cabbage leaf treatment for relieving breast engorgement. The pre- and posttreatment scores of breast engorgement and pain were recorded. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods using the statistical software STRATA.Results:Both the treatments, i.e., hot and cold compress and cabbage leaves were effective in decreasing breast engorgement and pain in postnatal mothers (P ≤ 0.001).Cold cabbage leaves and hot and cold compress were both equally effective in decreasing breast engorgement (P = 0.07), whereas hot and cold compresses were found to be more effective than cold cabbage leaves in relieving pain due to breast engorgement (P ≤ 0.001) in postnatal mothers.Conclusion:Cold cabbage leaves as well as alternate hot and cold compresses both can be used in the treatment of breast engorgement. Hot and cold compresses are more effective in decreasing pain than cold cabbage leaves in relieving pan due to breast engorgement.

Effect of two different nursing care approaches on reduction of breast engorgement among postnatal women

“…On the other hand, the authors concluded that hot and cold compresses were more effective than cabbage leaves. [40] In addition, the current study reported that, pain score for the cold cabbage group reduced from 7.76 ± 1.3 during the pretest to become 2.28 ± 0.8 during the posttest. While the group who use warm compresses, their pain score reduced from 8.1 ± 1.15 to become 4.3 ± 0.7 during the posttest.…”

“…[45] In Taiwan a Randomized Controlled Trial used massage therapy as a form of treatment. [16,46] According to Wong & his colleges [34] they stated that, cabbage leaf treatment used on women with breast engorgement to reduce pain, the firmness of the engorged breasts and increased the duration of breastfeeding.…”

Comparative effect of ultrasound therapy with conventional therapy on breast engorgement in immediate post-partum mothers: A randomized controlled trial

“…Engorgement is most common during the first week of breast-feeding and occurs as a result of delayed, infrequent or interrupted removal of milk from the breast [2]. The factors which may place a mother at a higher risk of engorgement are, failure to prevent or resolve milk stasis resulting from infrequent or inadequate drainage of the breasts [3,4].…”

“…It is a living fluid and contains exactly the right amount of nutrients required by a baby [8]. It is important to distinguish between physiological and pathological engorgement [3,9]. Treatment for breast engorgement include conservative, medical, and surgical [9].…”

“…If the milk is not removed, over-distention of the alveoli can cause the milksecreting cells to become flattened and drawn out, even to rupture [3]. Accumulation of milk and the resulting engorgement causes programmed cell death, thus resulting in involution of the milksecreting gland, milk reabsorption, collapse of the alveolar structures, and the cessation of milk production [5].…”