Midwifery Care for Postpartum Women Through Family Empowerment with Oxytocin Massage to Accelerate Breast Milk Expulsion at Puskesmas Beber Cirebon Regency

Abstract

When a mother experiences stress, sadness, lack of confidence, anxiety, and emotional disturbances during the postpartum period, the levels of oxytocin and prolactin hormones produced by the body will decrease, resulting in a lack of milk production.  Inadequate milk intake will cause nutritional imbalance. One of the effects of this nutritional imbalance is that it hinders the optimal growth and development of the baby. One way to accelerate breast milk production is through oxytocin massage, which is very useful, especially in the first few days after giving birth. This study used an observational approach with a pre-test and post-test design. Data were collected through interviews, breast milk production observation sheets, and physical examinations. The oxytocin massage intervention was carried out for 4 consecutive days, with each session lasting approximately 10-15 minutes. The results showed an increase in the score from 0 to 8. In conclusion, oxytocin massage can be an effective complementary obstetric care method to accelerate milk production, while empowering women through a relevant family approach.