Comparison of Maternal Comfort between Two Breastfeeding Positions

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of cradle hold versus football hold position of breast feeding in terms of increased comfort of primiparous women and to find the association between comfort of primiparous women and type of delivery.

Method and materials: An evaluative approach was used and the design selected for the study was quasi experimental, two group post test only design. Samples comprised of 60 postnatal mothers (30 in each group) admitted in Kasturba Hospital, Manipal and Dr.TMA Pai Hospital, Udupi. Purposive sampling technique was used to select samples. Data was collected using demographic proforma and maternal comfort checklist

Results: The result of the study shows that, there was no significant difference in the mean post test scores of comfort of primiparous women between cradle hold and football hold groups (p=0.411). But there was improvement in the mean post test scores of comfort of primiparous women in subsequent measures (three measures) in each group. There was no significant association between comfort of primiparous women and type of delivery (P value- 0.589).

Conclusion: Cradle hold and football hold positions of breast feeding were equally effective in terms of increased comfort of primiparous women. Mother can try either cradle hold or football hold position for breast feeding and can adopt whichever is comfortable for her. The study also revealed that there was no association between comfort of primiparous women and type of delivery in both cradle hold and football hold positions of breast feeding. Mother can try either cradle hold or football hold position for breast feeding irrespective of type of delivery.