Comparison of the breastfeeding outcomes and self-efficacy in the early postpartum period of women who had given birth by cesarean under general or spinal anesthesia

The Effect of Oketani Breast Massage on Successful Breastfeeding, Mothers’ Breastfeeding Support Need, and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy: A Clinical Trial Study

“…The present study showed that Oketani massage had a positive effect on the frequency of breastfeeding so that the average number of breastfeeding times from the first breastfeeding to discharge in mothers who received Oketani massage was significantly higher than the participants in the control group who received the usual care. The duration of breastfeeding indicates breastfeeding success and, as an interactive process, will be followed by maternal satisfaction and meeting the baby's need (6).…”

“…Successful breastfeeding means the successful transfer of milk from the mother's breast to the baby's mouth, which is influenced by several factors such as the infant's desire to receive milk, hearing the sound of a baby swallowing milk, the number of breastfeeding between 8 and 12 times a day, and the emptiness and softness of mother's breasts after each breastfeeding (4). In cesarean sections, due to the long-term separation of the mother and baby, the lack of skin-to-skin contact, and pain caused by surgery, there is a delay in starting breastfeeding and the success and exclusive continuation of breastfeeding is reduced, so that these mothers need more support for breastfeeding especially during the first hours and days after birth (5,6). Furthermore, mothers who undergo cesarean sections are less interested in breastfeeding their babies and also their babies show less effort to be breastfed early during the first 24 hours of birth, and this reduces the mother's chance for successful breastfeeding (7) and increases the likelihood of milk accumulation and breast congestion (8).…”

“…While the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF emphasize early breastfeeding within half to one hour of birth and its exclusive continuation for at least six months (1), the onset of breastfeeding is delayed for a longer time for neonates born by cesarean sections compared to those born via normal delivery (3,5,6). This may reduce the baby's acceptance of the breast and the baby's sucking reflex and have a negative effect on the development of the baby's neurological system (7).…”

“…One of the most important and influential factors on successful breastfeeding and its self-efficacy is the type of delivery. By increasing the time to start the first breastfeeding, early and long-term separation of mother and baby, and the mother's greater need for support for breastfeeding and its onset, cesarean sections reduce the mother's sense of self-sufficiency, ability, and self-esteem and prevent the success and continuation of breastfeeding (3,6). Cesarean sections increase the mother's need for support during breastfeeding and reduce her breastfeeding self-efficacy (9).…”

“…Low levels of breastfeeding self-efficacy are associated with an increased probability of early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding (11). Nevertheless, breastfeeding self-efficacy has shown a significant and positive relationship with increasing the breastfeeding duration (6,9) and is considered as one of the important indicators influencing breastfeeding outcomes (12,13).…”