TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BREAST MASSAGE ON BREAST MILK EXPRESSION VOLUME AMONG MOTHERS OF PRETERM NEONATES ADMITTED IN NICU

Early breast milk is liquid gold (colostrum) which is very rich in nutrients and antibodies to protect the baby The ideal food for the young infant is human milk, which has the specific characteristics that match the growing infant's nutritional requirements during first year of life. It has diverse and compelling advantages to infants, mothers, families and society. These include health, nutritional, immunological, developmental, psychological, social, economic and environmental benefits. Objectives: 1 .To assess the breast milk expression volume of experimental group among mothers of preterm neonates admitted in NICU. 2.To assess the breast milk expression volume of control group among mothers of preterm neonates admitted in NICU Methodology: The research approach is quantitative and used quasi-experimental research design, The eligible mothers of preterm neonates admitted in the postnatal ward. The study had two groups i.e., experimental and control group. Result: the mean difference between experimental and control group was 4.658 and p-value obtained for effect of breast massage on expressed breast milk volume was p = <0.001 which is significant at less than 0.05 level of significance. There was a significant difference in expressed milk volume between experimental and control group. It can be inferred that breast massage was effective in increasing the expressed breast milk volume among mothers of preterm neonates in the experimental group. Conclusion: The effect of breast massage on breast milk volume on the expression of breast milk among mothers of preterm neonates admitted to NICUs. The breast massage was effective for the increasing the volume of breast milk among mothers of premature neonates, breast massage had no effect on improving the breast milk expression in mothers of premature neonates,