Effect of Positioning Breastfeeding on pain level and Latch-on for cesarean patients

Abstract

The purpose of this quasi-experimental research was to compare the effect of the modified lying position (MLP) and side-lying position (SLP) on surgical wound pain and latch-on for Caesarean section patients.  The study occurred at the OB/GYN ward of Songklanagarind Hospital in southern Thailand. Thirty-two women who didn’t have complications in the twenty-four hours after a Caesarean section and had normal nipples and healthy neonates were enrolled in the study. Data was obtained using:  1)A demographical questionnaire 2) A pain assessment chart with a numerical rating scale (NRS) and 3) A breastfeeding charting system (LATCH). The content validity of these questionnaires were examined and approved by three experts. The reliability by Cronbach’s alpha Coefficient of a pain assessment chart with a numerical rating scale (NRS), and a breastfeeding charting system (LATCH) was 0.91and 0.72. This data was analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Wilcoxon-Sign Rank test, and t-test.

The results revealed that the MLP had a lower pain level than the SLP (P <.001). Pain was assessed during four steps: 2) positioning for breastfeeding 3) during feeding 4) returning to a normal position after feeding (P<.001)  ; and step1)resting before feeding (P-value=.180), an insignificant difference. The overall LATCH scores of both interventions didn’t differ significantly (MLP: X =7.94, S.D.=0.72; SLP: X =8.11, S.D.=0.83). This finding suggest that to reduce the pain level of the surgical wound and allow effective breastfeeding, nurses should teach the modified lying position.