Background: Postpartum care plays a critical role in supporting breastfeeding and ensuring optimal infant growth, particularly in the early days after birth. Oxytocin massage, a non-pharmacological technique that stimulates milk ejection, has been proposed as an effective method to enhance lactation and promote infant weight gain.
Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of oxytocin massage on infant weight gain among postpartum mothers at the Cikalong Public Health Center in Bandung District, Indonesia.
Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a posttest-only control group was used. The sample included 30 postpartum mothers on their first day after delivery, selected through purposive sampling and divided into an intervention group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The intervention consisted of oxytocin massage administered daily until day 7 postpartum. Infant weight was measured on day 7. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate methods, including the Mann-Whitney U test.
Results: The mean infant weight in the intervention group was 3210.00 grams (SD=268.73), compared to 3006.67 grams (SD=259.03) in the control group. A significant difference was observed between the groups (p=0.0001), indicating that oxytocin massage contributed to greater weight gain.
Conclusion: Oxytocin massage in postpartum mothers significantly enhances infant weight gain and supports breastfeeding success. This non-pharmacological intervention can be integrated into postpartum care practices.
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