Ameliorative Potential of Relaxing Back Massage on Postpartum Women's Hormones and Infant Weight

Abstract

Hormones transported through lactation from mother plasma to milk are crucial for both the start and continuation of breastfeeding. The purpose of this study was to prove  the impact of back massage on lactating women's serum levels of leptin, prolactin and growth hormone.Thirty women started breastfeeding in the first postpartum hour and continued breastfeeding for at least 2 times in a 4-h period were randomly assigned to either the study group (SG; n = 15) which had massage or the control group (CG; n = 15)which was treated by routine postnatal care as the study group . Leptin, prolactin, and growth hormone levels were measured before and after intervention at the laboratory of kafr elshiekh University Hospital.Within group analysis , there were statistical significant differences (p<0.05) in SG  leptin , prolactin ,growth hormone levels , growth hormone levels in CG and baby weight in both groups pre and post  intervention , leptin and prolactin levels were not statistically significant increased (p>0.5) in CG pre and post intervention. Between group analysis, there was  statistical significant difference of prolactin and growth hormone pre intervention and all hormones levels post intervention  ( p<0.05) with no statistical significant differences (p>0.05)  of leptin  levels pre intervention and baby weight pre and post intervention.Benefits of back massage have been related to increased production and growth factor levels in breast milk.