Published Paper Details:

Introduction : Breastfeeding remains the simplest, healthiest and least expensive feeding method that fulfils the baby's needs. Approximately two days after giving birth the women's breasts fill with milk, which is a normal process. This makes the breast heavy and swollen but under normal circumstances this should not be painful and hard. Breast engorgement develops in 72% to 85% in postnatal mothers. It is a painful, unpleasant condition affecting large number of mothers during the early postpartum. During this time when mothers are coping with demands of the baby it may be particularly distressing. Breast engorgement quenches the development of successful breast feeding, leading to early breastfeeding cessation and is associated with more serious illness including breast infection.Methodology : The conceptual frame work used in this study was Ernestine Wiedenbach's helping art of Clinical Nursing. A Quantitative Evaluative approach using Quasi-Experimental -Pre-test - Post-test control group design was used. The study was conducted at two selected hospitals, Non- Probability Sampling technique was used to select 50 postnatal mothers, as 25 for experimental group and 25 for control group. The intervention, Reverse Pressure Softening Technique was given to experimental group. The intervention was given thrice a day for three days, 2nd to 4th postnatal day, for a duration of 30 seconds per intervention. The control group did not receive any intervention. The pre-test and post-test was done by using the standardized Six-Point breast Engorgement Scale and LATCHES Breast Assessment Tool was used to assess the level of breast engorgement and breastfeeding among postnatal mothers. Result: The collected data were analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Unpaired 't' test was used to was to evaluate the effectiveness of reverse pressure softening technique on level of breast engorgement and breast feeding among postnatal mothers in experimental group and control group. The obtained post-test 't' value 26.93 on level of breast engorgement and 3.22 on level of breastfeeding was significant at p< 0.05 level. Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed that there was a significant difference in the post test level of breast engorgement and breast feeding among postnatal mothers in experimental and control group. The study concluded that Reverse Pressure Softening (RPS) technique is effective in reducing the level of breast engorgement and improving breast feeding among postnatal mothers.