Efficacy of Cabbage Leaves in Relief of Breast Engorgement among Postnatal Mothers

This study was carried out to assess the efficacy of ‘cabbage leaves’ application on the breast engorgement among postnatal mothers. Although various therapies are available for the treatment of breast engorgement, the efficacy of cabbage leaves on breast engorgement is little documented. A quasi experimental design was used with convenience sampling technique. The sample for the study consisted of 60 postnatal mothers (30 in each experimental and control group).Subjects in the experimental group were given intervention with application of cabbage leaves while the subjects in the control group were given routine care. Assessment for the severity of breast engorgement in terms of breast consistency and breast tenderness was done before intervention and at the end of each day. Data was collected by using interview schedule to assess the socio demographic data and observational checklist for assessing breast consistency and breast tenderness. Analysis was done using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Mean score of breast consistency in experimental group had a decrease of 1.90 while mean score in control group had decrease of only 0.80 (p<.001).Similarly in breast tenderness 86.20% subjects in experimental group had no tenderness at day 3 compared to 58.62% subjects in control group. Thus the study concluded that application of cabbage leaves were effective in reducing breast engorgement.