Clinical Research Directory

The Effect Of Postpartum Therapeutıc Touch On Breastfeedıng Self-Effıcacy, Maternal Attachment, And Postpartum Depressıon In Prımıparous Women: A Randomızed Controlled Study

The postpartum period, also known as the fourth trimester, begins with the birth of the baby and lasts approximately 6-8 weeks, varying from person to person. This period is when the physiological changes caused by pregnancy return to the mother's pre-pregnancy state. However, this period has critical effects on the health of both the mother and the baby (Çevik and Avcıbay Vurgeç, 2022). The mother is burdened with many responsibilities in the postpartum period. Some of these include providing care, especially feeding the baby, communicating with the baby, and establishing a bond of trust (Taşkın, 2016). During this period, the mother's breastfeeding self-efficacy, maternal bonding, and psychological state have long-term consequences not only on individual health but also on public health (Irmak, 2016; Erdoğan and Hocaoğlu, 2020; Çimen and Varol, 2021). The mother's immediate initiation and continuation of breastfeeding after birth positively affects mother-baby bonding and reduces the risk of developing postpartum depression (Irmak, 2016). Breastfeeding success is directly linked to the mother's breastfeeding self-efficacy (Turfan et al., 2018). Breastfeeding self-efficacy refers to the mother's self-confidence regarding the breastfeeding process, her ability to cope with the challenges she encounters in this process, and her willingness to breastfeed (Turan and Bozkurt, 2020). The literature indicates that mothers with high breastfeeding self-efficacy breastfeed for longer periods and more successfully (Lau et al., 2018). It is also known that mothers with high breastfeeding self-efficacy have more positive relationships with their babies. This is another important factor affecting maternal bonding (Gibbs et al., 2018). Maternal bonding describes the warm, continuous, and close relationship that the mother establishes with her baby. This bonding is a process that begins during the mother's pregnancy and intensifies in the postpartum period (Hoca Nacar and Gökkaya, 2019). Maternal bonding is a critical element that supports the baby's physical, social, and psychological development (Kınık and Özcan, 2020). Early contact between mothers and their babies in the postpartum period and adaptation to the maternal role strengthens this bond. However, psychological problems such as postpartum blues or postpartum depression can negatively affect the maternal bonding process (Nakić Radoš, 2021). Postpartum depression is a condition that emerges in the first weeks after birth and is usually characterized by a depressed mood, apathy, feelings of inadequacy, and hopelessness (Sharma and Mazmanian, 2014). Depression experienced by the mother during this period can disrupt the breastfeeding process, weaken maternal bonding, and therefore negatively affect the physical and emotional development of the baby (Oskay and Avcı, 2020). Therapeutic touch is an evidence-based complementary treatment method aimed at restoring a person's energy balance (Therapeutic Touch International Association, 2020). The literature indicates that therapeutic touch has positive effects on postpartum pain and anxiety, providing psychological relief to the mother and supporting better adaptation to the breastfeeding process (Ertekin Pınar and Demirel, 2021). Furthermore, studies have shown that therapeutic touch applications increase breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers and positively affect milk production (Fischer and Johnson, 1999). This study will make significant contributions to the literature by examining the effects of therapeutic touch on breastfeeding self-efficacy, maternal bonding, and postpartum depression in the postpartum period. Demonstrating the effectiveness of therapeutic touch can encourage healthcare professionals to use this method more widely. The results may shed light on the development of supportive care models for mothers in the postpartum period. Additionally, this study will lead to a better understanding of the relationships between breastfeeding self-efficacy, maternal bonding, and postpartum depression.