Impact of breastfeeding positions on neck pain in postpartum mothers

Simin A. Dandekar; Mayuri Khatavkar

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20222573

Authors

Simin A. Dandekar MGM College of Physiotherapy, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Mayuri Khatavkar Department of Community Physiotherapy, MGM College of Physiotherapy, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20222573

Keywords:

Breastfeeding position, Neck pain, Postpartum mothers

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding mothers often encounters various complaints such as pain and discomfort. It was also seen that a mother has to attain feeding position for a long period of time. Thus, our aim was to find if there is any correlation between musculoskeletal neck pain and breastfeeding position in post-partum mothers.

Methods: It was a cross sectional, observational study in which sampling was done by purposive method. 207 postpartum mothers fulfilling inclusion criteria were included and a self-made questionnaire and neck disability index (NDI) were used as outcome measure. Statistical analysis was done using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 24.

Results: Almost all those mothers reported neck pain while breastfeeding in different positions especially in side-lying and cross-cradle in terms of NDI with median value of 11.1 and there were 65.7% mothers who had awareness about ideal breastfeeding position. The interpretation of neck pain showed changes with respect to different positions, when analyzed by Kruskal Wallis test.

Conclusions: Though it showed statistical insignificance in correlation due to various reasons such as negligence, habitualisation, lack of awareness, unmet support from family.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

UNICEF. Newborn and child health. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/india/what-we-do/newborn-and-child-health. Accessed on 02 July 2022.

Health and Family Welfare Statistics in India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. (2019-20). Available at: https://main.mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/HealthandFamilyWelfarestatisticsinIndia201920.pdf. Accessed on 02 July 2022.

Mbada CE, Olowookere AE, Faronbi JO, Oyinlola-Aromolaran FC, Faremi FA, Ogundele AO, et al. Knowledge, attitude and techniques of breastfeeding among Nigerian mothers from a semi-urban community. BMC Res Notes. 2013;6(1):1-8.

Mbada CE, Oyinlola FC, Olatunbosun TO, Awotidebe TO, Arije OO, Johnson OE, Fashote EO. Is baby-friendly breastfeeding mother-friendly? J Women’s Health Physical Therap. 2013;37(1):19-28.

Gupta SA, Sharma M, Ekka A, Verma N. Factors affecting breastfeeding techniques among postnatal mothers: an experience in a tertiary care centre. Int J Comm Med Public Health. 2019;6(7):2991.

Jothi Prasanna K, Tamizhmani T. Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Discomfort Among Breast feeding Mothers. Int J Curr Adv Res. 2019;8(3):17706-9.

Rani S, Habiba UE, Qazi WA, Tassadaq N. Association of breast-feeding positioning with musculoskeletal pain in post-partum mothers of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. J Pak Med Assoc. 2019;69(4):564-6.

Thabah M, Ravindran V. Musculoskeletal problems in pregnancy. Rheumatol Int. 2015;35(4):581-7.

Fitzgerald CM, Segal N. Musculoskeletal health in pregnancy and postpartum. Switzerland: Springer. 2015.

Sapsford R, Bullock-Saxton J, Markwell S. Women's health: a textbook for physiotherapists. WB Saunders. 1998.

Mantle J, Haslam J, Barton S. Physiotherapy in obstetrics and gynaecology. Elsevier Health Sciences. 2019.

Vernon H, Mior S. The Neck Disability Index: a study of reliability and validity. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1991;14(7):409-15.

Zielinska MA, Sobczak A, Hamulka J. Breastfeeding knowledge and exclusive breastfeeding of infants in first six months of life. Roczniki Państwowego Zakładu Higieny. 2017;68(1).

Kalra S, Bhatnagar B. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder among housewives. Int Res J Engineer Technol. 2017;2395-6.

Cheng CY, Fowles ER, Walker LO. Postpartum maternal health care in the United States: A critical review. J Perinatal Educ. 2006;15(3):34.

Javadifar N, Majlesi F, Nikbakht A, Nedjat S, Montazeri A. Journey to motherhood in the first year after child birth. J Fam Reprod Health. 2016;10(3):146.

Zanini S, Voltolini A, Gragnano G, Fumagalli E, Pagnini F. Changes in Pain Perception following Psychotherapy: The Mediating Role of Psychological Components. Pain Res Manag. 2018;8713084.

Doody O, Bailey ME. Understanding pain physiology and its application to person with intellectual disability. J Intellectual Disab. 2019;23(1):5-18.

Linton SJ, Shaw WS. Impact of psychological factors in the experience of pain. Physical Therap. 2011;91(5):700-11.

LaChapelle DL, Lavoie S, Boudreau A. The meaning and process of pain acceptance. Perceptions of women living with arthritis and fibromyalgia. Pain Res Management. 2008;13(3):201-10.

Bingel U, Schoell E, Herken W, Büchel C, May A. Habituation to painful stimulation involves the antinociceptive system. Pain. 2007;131(1-2):21-30.