Background
Mothers of preterm infants often experience increased depressive symptoms during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This situation can negatively affect breastfeeding self-efficacy, necessitating effective supportive interventions. This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigated the impact of Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) exercises on breastfeeding self-efficacy and postpartum depression in mothers of preterm infants.
Methods
The study was conducted in the NICU of a hospital in Istanbul between November 2018 and June 2019. The study included 70 mothers. Data were collected using a sociodemographic form, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES), Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), and mother follow-up forms. In the experimental group, mothers performed progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) exercises twice a day for two weeks, while the control group received routine care; data were analysed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, independent samples t-test, chi-square test and repeated measures ANOVA, and the significance level was p < 0.05.
Results
At the two-week follow-up, mothers in the experimental group had significantly higher BSES scores and lower EPDS scores. In the 2nd-week assessment compared to baseline, the EPDS score for the experimental group mothers decreased by −3.46 ± 3.45, while the control group mothers, it decreased by −1.03 ± 2.15. This difference was statistically significant (t = −3.535, p = 0.001).
Conclusion
PMR exercises effectively enhance breastfeeding self-efficacy and reduce postpartum depression in mothers of preterm infants. PMR is a safe, low-cost intervention that can be integrated into NICU nursing care to reduce depressive symptoms in mothers of preterm infants, increase breastfeeding success.
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