Abstract

• The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to explore the effect of aromatherapy massage on the mood, the milk ejection reflex, and the immunoglobulin A of the breast milk of mothers who gave birth through a Cesarean section delivery. Twenty mothers who had Cesarean section were selected as an experimental group, and twenty-two were in the control group. Lavander and Rosemary oil mixed with Jojova carrier oil was used to massage the back, both axillar and breasts. Aromatherapy massage was done once a day for 20 minutes by the researcher. Each session consisted of 4 minutes for warm-up, 14 minutes for massage and 2 minutes for closure. The levels of IgA within the breast milk was analyzed by an immunoturbidimeter assay (Cobas INTEGRA, Roche, Swiss) before and after aromatherapy massage. Mood and milk ejection reflex were measured by self-reports at the same time. The data were analyzed using SPSS 7.5 and the hypotheses were tested by ANCOVA and the Pearson coefficient correlation. The results were as follows: 1) Score of mood increased significantly after the use of aromatherapy massage. 2) Score of milk ejection reflex increased significantly after the use of aromatherapy massage. 3) Level of IgA of breast milk did not change significantly after the use of aromatherapy massage. 4) After the use of aromatherapy massage, there wasn't any correlation among mood, milk ejection reflex, and level of IgA of breast milk. In conclusion, the results suggest that aromatherapy massage is an effective nursing intervention to enhance the mood and the milk ejection reflex and to increase the rate of breastfeeding in the breastfeeding mothers under stresses like a Cesarean section.
• Keywords: Aromatherapy massage; Mood; Milk ejection reflex; Breast milk immunoglobulin A

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