Effect of Tuina at the breasts on postpartum lactation

ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy of Tuina for postpartum lactation and work out an optimal protocol involved.MethodsWith a randomized, controlled and clinical method, Eighty-four full-term primiparas were divided into a Tuina group (58 cases) and a control group (26 cases). While the patients in the control group received rooming in conventional nursing, those in the Tuina group were additionally treated with Tuina, including local manipulations at the breasts combined with acupoint manipulations. The colostrum time, lactation volume and serum prolactin were observed to make the comparisons between the two groups.ResultsThe scores of lactation quantity after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd of the treatment were 1.660±0.785, 2.530±1.030, 2.880±1.171 in the Tuina group and 1.270±0.533, 1.460±0.811, 1.500±0.583 in the control group respectively, where there were significant differences in each time stage between the two groups (all P<0.001). The time of colostrum was (21.6±10.5) h in the Tuina group and (22.5±9.7) h in the control group, in which the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The levels of prolactin were (314.35±110.37) ng/mL and (321.56±109.61) ng/mL in the Tuina group, (385.78±85.19) ng/mL and (340.12±103.10) ng/mL in the control group before and after treatment respectively, suggested that there were no significant difference (both P>0.05).ConclusionPostpartum Tuina at the breasts could increase the quantity of lactation and delay the decreasing of the levels of prolactin, which contributes primiparas to lactate more and sooner.