Effects of Oketani Breast Massage on Breast Pain, the Breast Milk pH of Mothers, and the Sucking Speed of Neonates

Abstract

Purpose: This study was done to test the effects of Oketani breast massage on breast pain and breast milk pH of mothers, and sucking speed of neonates. Methods: A nonequivalent control group and a pretest-posttest design was used. Postpartum mothers complaining of breast pain were recruited at a postpartum care center. The application of Oketani breast massage by an Oketani massage therapist was the experimental treatment. The control group received the conventional massage technique from a nurse at the postpartum care centre. The collected data were analysed using a x 2-test and a t-test with the SPSS WIN 12.0 program. Results: The participants were homogeneous in age, gestation period, and birth weight. Breast pain (t=8.384, p