Introduction: Postpartum blues is a mild adaptation disorder in postpartum mothers that affects psychological and physiological conditions, including breast milk production. This condition significantly impacts maternal health and infant development. This study aimed to examine the association between oxytocin massage, oxytocin hormone levels, and breast milk production in mothers with postpartum blues.
Materials and methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design with treatment and control groups was used. The study was conducted at Siti Fatimah Special District Hospital for Maternal and Child Makassar and Pertiwi Mother and Child Hospital Makassar, from February to November 2024. A total of 68 postpartum mothers with postpartum blues were divided into two groups (34 participants per group). Screening was performed using the EPDS scale, oxytocin levels were measured using the ELISA method, and Breast milk production was assessed using a composite scoring system based on three main indicators: (1) infant weight gain, evaluated using the mean value (X̄) and standard deviation (SD); (2) breastfeeding frequency, recorded through maternal reports and structured observation; and (3) breastfeeding duration, assessed based on the average time per feeding session. Each indicator was assigned a score ranging from 1 to 3, corresponding to low (score 1), moderate (score 2), and high (score 3) levels. The total score from these three components was used to classify overall breast milk production into three categories: high production (total score 7-8), moderate production (total score 5-6), and low production (total score 3-4). Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS.
Results: The baseline characteristics were evenly distributed across between the groups. The reduction in EPDS scores was greater in the treatment group (13.44 ± 2.765 to 12.12 ± 3.832) than in the control group (13.97 ± 3.196 to 13.26 ± 2.864), with a significant between-group difference (p = 0.000). Moreover, oxytocin levels increased significantly in the treatment group (47.57 ± 10.42 pg/mL to 52.62 ± 11.33, p = 0.001), whereas no significant change was observed in the control group, except for the comparison of the difference in oxytocin levels between the two groups confirming that this difference is statistically significant (p = 0.007).
Conclusion: This study suggests that oxytocin massage may serve as a complementary approach therapy for reducing postpartum blues symptoms and enhancing breast milk production. Its integration into clinical practice can support maternal postpartum care by promoting emotional well-being and improving lactation outcomes.