One 40-minute reflexology session per day for six days resulted in an immediate increase in breast milk volume among mothers who had given birth to preterm infants, according to recent research.

The study measured the effects of reflexology on the breast milk volume of mothers. The mothers selected had given birth 3 day prior via cesarean section. The mothers all had babies that were all the neo-natal intensive care unit and the gestation age ranged from 29 – 36 weeks. The study included 50 mothers who were split into 2 groups a control group and a reflexology group.

The mothers received the usual breast feeding training and the reflexology group had one 40min reflexology session every day for 6 days.

The results of the study were measured by the volume of milk produced. The measurements were taken prior to the reflexology treatment beginnin. Then every day after the reflexology treatment was given the volume of milk over a set period of time was measured.. The results showed that the volume of milk increased significantly more in the reflexology group when compared to the control group over the 6 day period. The study concluded that this is an effective low cost procedure which can be used along side other lactation training.

Authors: Atena Mohammmadpour, Mahboubeh Valiani, Alireza Sadeghnia and Sedigheh Talakoub.

Sources: Student Research Center, Department of Midwifery, and Department of Pediatric and Neonatal Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Neonatology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Originally published in the September-October 2018 issue of the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 23(5), 371-375.