2006 Volume 20 Issue 1 Pages 1_60-1_68
Purpose
This study attempted to clarify how effectively breast massages change subjective indisposition of gloom, engorgement, and mammary surface skin temperature by utilizing the Oketani style breast massage during the child weaning period.
Method
Subjects were 10 women who received the Oketani style breast massage from 1 year to 2 years and a month after birth. A midwife measured engorgement, and the mothers measured subjective indisposition of the mammae before and just after the massage using the visual analog scale. Mammary surface skin temperature was measured with the Thermo Tracer (TH5100, NEC) device. Data were gathered before the first breast massage and then just after, at intervals of 1, 3, and 5 minutes. The maximum and mean mammary surface skin temperature were measured by the Thermal image treatment program (TH51-701).
Result
The subjects clearly complained of gloominess, but their gloom was improved after massage on the 3rd and 10th weaning days. The engorgement of mammae was reduced by the mammary massage. The mammary surface skin temperature of 7 out of 8 subjects rose after the massage on the 3rd weaning day. The mammary surface skin temperature of 2 out of 6 subjects rose, and the other 4 subjects' temperatures fell after the massage on the 10th weaning day.
Conclusion
Over all, the use of the Oketani style breast massage in the child weaning period proved to be more effective for improving blood circulation of the whole mammae and is an effective way to reduce a mother's mammary discomforts.
