Authors (including presenting author) :
LAI KW(1), TO CPJ(1), LAM KY(1), YEUNG SYC (1)(2), SIU KY(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital
(2) Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Introduction :
65-75% of postpartum women experience breast engorgement between 3 to 5 days after delivery. Poor management can cause breast pain, breastfeeding difficulty, block ducts or even mastitis. Traditional management such as excessive breast massage may further induce tissue inflammation, worsening the condition. Kinesio taping (K-taping) reduces pain by activating neurological suppression and lifting fascia and soft tissue over the pain area. Applying the tape over the upper part of the breast can move edema away from the breast tissue, facilitating the baby’s latch-on and enhancing milk drainage. Manual lymphatic drainage by breast massage also promotes lymph flow, stimulates lymphatic system by redirecting accumulated fluid, thus relieving breast engorgement symptoms. In this project, K-taping combined with manual lymphatic drainage by self-breast lymphatic massage was applied to patients to relief breast engorgement.
Objectives :
To reduce breast engorgement and pain in Postnatal mothers by K-Taping and Manual lymphatic massage drainage.
Methodology :
Lactation consultant assessed all patients who complained of breast engorgement. K-Taping combined with self-breast lymphatic massage was applied. Two subjective measures, the self-reported Visual Analog Score (VAS) and the six-point engorgement scale, are used to assess the pain severity and engorgement level. The first assessment was performed prior to the application as baseline information; the second assessment will be performed one hour after the application, with the subsequent assessment carried out in the morning shift every day until symptoms subside or the patient was discharged home. All recruited patients were invited to complete a self-evaluation form before discharge.
Result & Outcome :
Before the application of K-Tape and manual lymphatic drainage, the average baseline VAS for pain was 5.46, while the average baseline engorgement score was 4.91. After one hour of application of K-Taping, the average VAS decreased slightly to 4.68, while the average engorgement score decreased to 3.73. On day 1, the average VAS and engorgement score reduced more to 2.93 and 3.33 respectively. On day 2, the average VAS and engorgement score further reduced to 2 and 2.5 respectively. For the self-evaluation survey, 85.7% of patients expressed that milk flow was enhanced, and 93.3% of patients verbalized breast engorgement was relieved after application. Kinesio Taping and manual lymphatic drainage can reduce VAS and engorgement scores of our recruited patients. This practice was highly accepted by patients as shown by the good comments from them. This program is still in progress and will continue in our unit in order to enhance the management of the patients with breast engorgement.
