The Effect of Hot Ginger Compress (Zingiber officinale) on the severity of breast Engorgement in Lactating Women

Breast engorgement is considered as one of the most common postpartum problems and one of the main causes of stopping breast feeding. It may be involved in nipple pain, nipple injury, and breast infections. Therefore, this study was performed with aim to determine the effect of Ginger warm compression on the severity of breast engorgement. This clinical trial study was performed on 76 lactating women with breast engorgement referred to the obstetrics clinic and gynecology department of Imam Reza Hospital (Mashhad) in 2018. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups: Ginger warm compress and routine care. Severity of engorgement was determined by engorgement severity standard index. The treatment was performed three days a day for two days in both groups. Data related to the severity of engorgement before and after the intervention was analyzed by SPSS software (version 22) and Mann-Whitney, T-Paired, Independent T-test, Chi-square and ANOVA tests. P<0.05 was considered significant. Two groups were homogeneous in terms of the mean score of the severity of breast engorgement before the intervention. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the severity of right (p = 0.329) and left (p = 0.549) breast engorgement. The mean of total engorgement after intervention in right and left breast decreased in Ginger compression group and control group, but the effect of breast engorgement severity in Ginger compression group was significantly higher than control group(p<0.001). Ginger compression is more effective than routine care in decreasing the severity of breast engorgement symptoms in lactating women.