Effect of Herbal Compresses for Maternal Breast Engorgement at Postpartum: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Maternal breast engorgement is one of the most common problems in the postpartum period. There are several alternative treatments, but there have not been any randomized controlled trial studies about the effects of herbal compresses for breast engorgement.

Objective: The objective is to investigate the effects of herbal compresses for maternal breast engorgement.

Materials and methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. The postpartum mothers who had breast engorgement were randomly assigned to herbal or hot compress treatments. The breast engorgement pain scores were assessed by visual analog scales pre- and post-treatment. The pain reduction scales of the herbal compress treatments were analyzed and compared with the hot compress treatments. The adverse effects of each treatment were recorded and collected after 24 hours from treatments.

Results: The data from 500 postpartum mothers with breast engorgement were available for analyses, 250 from the herbal compress group and 250 from the hot compress group. The baseline characteristics of both groups were similar except baseline breast engorgement pain score (herbal compress group higher than hot compress group). There were statistically significant mean differences of breast engorgement pain before and after treatment between the herbal and hot compress groups. No serious complications were found after treatment from herbal compresses.

Conclusion: Among the postpartum mothers who had breast engorgement, the herbal compresses could decrease breast engorgement pain. The pain reduction after herbal compresses was found to be greater than with the hot compresses.

Keywords: breast engorgement; herbal compress; hot compress.