Postpartum Acupressure Education and Breastfeeding Outcomes

Effect of Postpartum Acupressure Education on Breastfeeding Outcomes: A 12-Month Randomized Controlled Trial

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Lactation; Breastfeeding; Postpartum Period
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Postpartum Acupressure Education Program

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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 360
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Pınar Erdoğan, Assoc. Prof.; Phone Number: +905233646954; Email: drpinarerdogan@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Merkez
    • Niğde, Merkez, Turkey (Türkiye), 51240
      • Recruiting
      • Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Hospital
      • Contact: Pınar Erdoğan; Phone Number: 05233646954; Email: pinar.erdogan@ohu.edu.tr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Acupressure Education Plus Standard Care; Participants receive standard postpartum breastfeeding care in addition to structured education on self-administered acupressure. Acupressure education is provided within 48 hours postpartum and includes face-to-face instruction, printed visual materials, and a short instructional video. Participants are instructed to apply acupressure at the specified points twice daily at home throughout the postpartum period, according to the study protocol.	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.
No Intervention: Standard Care Alone; Participants receive routine postpartum breastfeeding care and counseling according to institutional Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative practices. No acupressure education, materials, or reminders are provided.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Exclusive breastfeeding rate at 6 months postpartum	Proportion of participants exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum, assessed by maternal self-report using 24-hour recall with additional validation questions, consistent with World Health Organization definitions.	At 6 months postpartum

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Any breastfeeding rate at 12 months postpartum	Proportion of participants providing any breast milk at 12 months postpartum.	At 12 months postpartum
Maternal breastfeeding satisfaction score	Maternal self-reported satisfaction with the breastfeeding experience, assessed using a single-item numeric rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicate greater breastfeeding satisfaction.	1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum
Time to introduction of complementary feeding	Time from birth to first introduction of any food or liquid other than breast milk, as reported by the mother.	From birth up to 12 months postpartum
Bottle or pacifier use	Maternal report of any bottle feeding and/or pacifier use by the infant.	1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months postpartum
Breastfeeding-related adverse events	Incidence of mastitis, plugged ducts, and breastfeeding-related healthcare visits.	From baseline through 12 months postpartum
Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) score	Total score on the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). The scale consists of 14 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5), yielding a total score ranging from 14 to 70, with higher scores indicating greater breastfeeding self-efficacy.	Baseline (≤48 hours postpartum), 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum
Breastfeeding quality score (LATCH)	Breastfeeding quality assessed using the LATCH breastfeeding assessment tool. The LATCH score consists of 5 components (Latch, Audible swallowing, Type of nipple, Comfort, Hold), each rated from 0 to 2, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate better breastfeeding performance.	Baseline (≤48 hours postpartum) and 1 month postpartum

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Nigde Omer Halisdemir University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 25, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 15, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 15, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 7, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 7, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 2, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 30, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Postpartum; Acupressure; Exclusive breastfeeding; Breastfeeding self-efficacy; Breastfeeding continuation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Feeding Behavior; Breast Feeding
• Other Study ID Numbers: 22504254-050.04-18

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared publicly. Data will be stored in a de-identified format and used solely for the purposes of the present study and related publications, in accordance with institutional ethics approval.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No