Effects of hollyhock leaves compress with cold and hot compress on breast congestion in lactating women.

Objectives: Breast congestion is a common problem affecting 40% of mothers after delivery and has adverse effects on proper breastfeeding. This study aimed to identify the effects of the local use of Hollyhock leaves compress with cold and hot compress on breast congestion in breastfeeding women. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 40 women in Abolfazl Hospital of Kashmar, Iran Subjects were randomly divided into two groups of control and intervention. Severity of congestion was evaluated by determining the total scores for symptoms such as redness, tension and pain. Intervention in the control group included hot compress before breastfeeding and cold compress after breastfeeding. In the intervention group, in addition to hot and cold compress, Hollyhock leaves compress was used. Data analysis was performed using generalized estimating equation (GEE) in SPSS. Results: In this study, both groups were homogeneous in terms of age, time of the onset of congestion, education status, occupation and type of delivery. Severity of congestion was on a downward trend during intervention in both groups, while the effects of intervention group on the total score of breast congestion was statistically significant (p<0.001). In addition, average breast congestion score of control subjects was 4.103, which was higher than the score in the intervention group. Also, time had a significant effect on the congestion score (p<0.001); in other words, congestion score saw a reduction with time. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, hot and cold compress alone and along with Hollyhock leaves had significant effects on breast congestion, while using Hollyhock leaves compress resulted in the rapid improvement of breast congestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]