Evaluation of Lactation Support Education among Primiparous Post-Cesarean Mothers

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Lactation Support education on mother's knowledge regarding breastfeeding and breast engorgement in primiparous post cesarean women.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Sharif Medical Hospital Lahore from 1st July 2025 to 30th November 2025.

Methods: This study was conducted among 90 primiparous mothers. A questionnaire regarding breastfeeding knowledge and Hill & Humenick six-point breast engorgement scale was used to collect the data. The participants' baseline breastfeeding knowledge scores was initially obtained through pre-assessment. The intervention group took part in prenatal lactation support education two weeks earlier to their planned cesarean section. The intervention group received lactation support education. After intervention the knowledge and breast engorgement was assessed to see the effect of the intervention.

Results: The intervention group showed a noticeable improvement following the intervention. Their mean rank knowledge score increased significantly to 66.59±2.256 from the control group's mean of 24.41±1.876 (z= –7.724, p=0.000). Similarly there was a statistically significant difference in breast engorgement outcomes between the control and intervention groups, where the control group had a substantially higher mean rank 56.37±1.252 as compare to the intervention group 34.63±0.919, indicating less engorgement symptoms (p-value of 0.000)

Conclusion: The lactation support education improved breastfeeding knowledge and reduced breast engorgement among primiparous mothers. Following the instructional session, mothers in the intervention group shown a notable improvement in their breastfeeding knowledge from poor to good, but the control group showed little change.