Postpartum Acupressure Education and Breastfeeding Outcomes
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Postpartum Acupressure Education Program.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Breastfeeding, Lactation, Postpartum Period. Basic parameters: 18 years — 45 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Turkey (Türkiye)
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Effect of Postpartum Acupressure Education on Breastfeeding Outcomes: A 12-Month Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
This randomized controlled trial evaluates whether acupressure education provided to mothers within the first 48 hours postpartum improves exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6 months compared with standard postpartum care alone. Mothers in the intervention group will receive structured education on self-administered acupressure at selected points and will be encouraged to continue home-based practice, while the control group will receive standard breastfeeding support. Participants will be followed for 12 months to assess breastfeeding continuation, breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding quality, and breastfeeding-related outcomes.
Detailed description
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding up to 12 months are strongly associated with improved maternal and infant health outcomes. Despite widespread implementation of Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative practices, early postpartum challenges often compromise breastfeeding continuation. Scalable, low-cost, self-care-based interventions that enhance maternal confidence and perceived control may support sustained breastfeeding.
This study is a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial designed to assess the effectiveness of postpartum acupressure education as an adjunct to standard breastfeeding care. Eligible mothers will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either an acupressure education plus standard care group or a standard care-only group. Acupressure education will include face-to-face instruction, printed visual materials, and a short instructional video, focusing on the acupoints CV17 (Shanzhong), ST18 (Rugen), SI1 (Shaoze), ST36 (Zusanli), and SP6 (Sanyinjiao).
The primary outcome is the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum, defined according to World Health Organization criteria. Secondary outcomes include any breastfeeding at 12 months, breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding quality, timing of complementary feeding introduction, breastfeeding-related adverse events, and maternal satisfaction. Analyses will be conducted using an intention-to-treat approach.
Interventions
- Other Postpartum Acupressure Education Program
Structured education on self-administered acupressure provided within 48 hours postpartum, including face-to-face instruction, printed visual materials, and a short instructional video. Participants are instructed to apply acupressure at specified points twice daily at home according to the study protocol.
Primary outcome measures
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate at 6 months postpartum [Time frame: At 6 months postpartum]
Secondary outcome measures (7)
- Any breastfeeding rate at 12 months postpartum [Time frame: At 12 months postpartum]
- Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) score [Time frame: Baseline (≤48 hours postpartum), 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum]
- Breastfeeding quality score (LATCH) [Time frame: Baseline (≤48 hours postpartum) and 1 month postpartum]
- Maternal breastfeeding satisfaction score [Time frame: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum]
- Time to introduction of complementary feeding [Time frame: From birth up to 12 months postpartum]
- Bottle or pacifier use [Time frame: 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months postpartum]
- Breastfeeding-related adverse events [Time frame: From baseline through 12 months postpartum]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age 18 to 45 years
- Term singleton birth (≥37 weeks of gestation)
- ≤48 hours postpartum at the time of enrollment
- Intention to breastfeed
- Ability to communicate in Turkish
- Access to a smartphone for educational materials and follow-up reminders
- Willingness to provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
- Contraindications to breastfeeding (e.g., infant galactosemia)
- Severe neonatal condition preventing breastfeeding
- Severe maternal medical or psychiatric condition interfering with breastfeeding
- Current opioid, alcohol, or substance dependence
- Multiple gestation pregnancy
- Severe breast injury or condition within the first 72 hours postpartum preventing breastfeeding
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
Study locations
Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center
- Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Hospital — Niğde
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07410949 · 22504254-050.04-18