A Comparative Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Warm Compress and Cold Cabbage Leaves Application on Breast Engorgement Among Postnatal Mothers in Selected Urban Areas of Jabalpur (M.P)

Abstract

Background: Motherhood is a lasting journey, and breastfeeding is important. Breast engorgement is a common issue for mothers and can lead to reduced milk production and stress. 13.3% of mothers who don’t breastfeed may experience puerperal fever due to engorgement.
Aim: Breast engorgement affects 72% to 85% of mothers after childbirth and makes exclusive breastfeeding difficult. The study highlighted the benefits of using cabbage leaves to help relieve breast engorgement, aiming to reduce illness and death rates in new borns.
Methodology: A study was done to see how effective warm compresses and cold cabbage leaves are for easing breast engorgement in new mothers in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. 60 mothers took part, with 30 using warm compresses and 30 using cabbage leaves. Researchers used a scoring system and a pain scale to collect information.
Result: Warm compresses significantly reduced breast engorgement, with mean scores improving from 5.88 to 9.93 (t = 9.91), indicating strong effectiveness. Cold cabbage leaves also showed significant improvement (t = 4.020), suggesting they are effective as well. However, comparison between the two methods (t = 0.106) showed no significant difference, indicating that both treatments are equally effective.
Conclusion: Exclusive breastfeeding greatly benefits newborn health, but breast engorgement can make breastfeeding uncomfortable and painful, affecting the mother-child bond. It is important for mothers to learn an effective technique to relieve engorgement, such as using cabbage leaves. This simple remedy can help ease engorgement, leading to a more enjoyable breastfeeding experience.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.9318.202508

How to cite this article: Suresh V, Singh S. A Comparative Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Warm Compress and Cold Cabbage Leaves Application on Breast Engorgement among Postnatal Mothers in Selected Urban Areas of Jabalpur (M.P). Int J Nurs Midwif Res.2025;12(3&4):1-7.