Husband-Performed Oxytocin Massage and Changes in Breast Milk Adeacy During Early Postpartum: Evidence from Infant Defecation and Sleep Indicators

Authors

  • Bau Kanang Department of Nutrition, Persada Nabire Institute of Health Sciences, Nabire, Indonesia
  • Nur Susan Iriyanti Ibrahim Department of Nutrition, Persada Nabire Institute of Health Sciences, Nabire, Indonesia
  • Ade Fadly Masse eLSTUDIKA Indonesia Research Foundation, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24252/algizzai.v6i1.64295

Keywords:

Oxytocin massage, husband support, infant defecation, infant sleep duration

Abstract

Introduction: Perceived breast milk insufficiency during early postpartum is a major contributor to the failure of exclusive breastfeeding. Oxytocin massage is a non-pharmacological intervention that may enhance milk ejection reflex, particularly with spousal involvement.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze changes in breast milk adequacy indicators following husband-performed oxytocin massage based on infant defecation frequency and sleep duration.

Methods: A quasi-experimental one group pretest–posttest design was conducted among 29 postpartum mothers selected purposively in Bajeng and Pabbentengan Primary Health Centers, Gowa Regency. Husbands performed oxytocin massage for three consecutive postpartum days. Breast milk adequacy was assessed using infant defecation frequency and sleep duration. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test (p < 0.05).

Results: Infant defecation frequency increased significantly from pretest to day three posttest (p < 0.001). Infant sleep duration showed no significant difference on day one (p = 0.141), but significant increases were observed on day two (p = 0.032) and day three (p = 0.007).

Conclusion: Husband-performed oxytocin massage was associated with improvements in breast milk adequacy indicators during early postpartum. However, due to the absence of a control group, causal inference should be interpreted cautiously.

References

Abdul Jafar, N. K., Tham, E. K. H., Pang, W. W., Fok, D., Chua, M. C., Teoh, O.-H., Goh, D. Y. T., Shek, L. P.-C., Yap, F., Tan, K. H., Gluckman, P. D., Chong, Y.-S., Meaney, M. J., Broekman, B. F. P., & Cai, S. (2021). Association between breastfeeding and sleep patterns in infants and preschool children. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 114(6), 1986–1996. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqab297

Alif, Z. S., Handayani, R. T., Lu, Y. Y., & Putri, A. P. (2024). Enhancing breast milk production in breastfeeding mothers through oxytocin massage interventions: A systematic review. Avicenna: Journal of Health Research, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.36419/avicenna.v7i2.1203

Asih, Y. (2017). Pengaruh pijat oksitosin terhadap produksi ASI pada ibu nifas. Jurnal Kebidanan, 6(2), 45–52.

Astutik, R. Y. (2014). Payudara dan laktasi. Jakarta: Salemba Medika.

Bau K. 2020. Efektivitas Pijat Oksitosin oleh Suami terhadap Kecukupan ASI Berdasarkan Frekuensi Buang Air Besar dan Lama Tidur Bayi

Downloads

Published

2026-02-15

How to Cite

Kanang, B., Ibrahim, N. S. I., & Masse, A. F. (2026). Husband-Performed Oxytocin Massage and Changes in Breast Milk Adeacy During Early Postpartum: Evidence from Infant Defecation and Sleep Indicators. Al GIZZAI: Public Health Nutrition Journal, 6(1), 39–47. https://doi.org/10.24252/algizzai.v6i1.64295

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Article

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Al GIZZAI: Public Health Nutrition Journal

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted to publish their work online in third parties as it can lead to wider dissemination of the work.