The Effects of Herbal Milk Nourishing Medication on the Levels of Milk Flow in Postpartum Mothers

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research aimed to measure the effects of herbal milk nourishing medication on the levels of milk flow in postpartum mothers. The sample consisted of 54 postpartum mothers who received the postpartum care at Sangkha hospital.  The sampling was a random allocation of postpartum mothers, who were divided into those who received the herbal milk nourishing medication group (n = 27) and those who received the Domperidone group (n = 27). The research instruments were data-collection instruments and consisted of a personal data form, and the level of milk flow assessment form. The tools were approved by three experts, yielding a content validity index of .80. The reliability of the milk flow assessment form was examined using interrater of reliability, yielding a value of .90. The data were analyzed using average, standard deviation and independent t-tests.

The results of the study were as follows. Postpartum mothers who received the herbal milk nourishing medication had mean scores of milk flow leveling at 32 and 40 hours which were significantly higher than the mothers who received the Domperidone. (p = .022 and .022). In conclusion, the herbal milk nourishing medication was effective in helping the body start producing milk more quickly and producing more milk than using the Domperidone, after postpartum hours 32 and 40.