BreastfeedingNCT07410949
Postpartum Acupressure Education and Breastfeeding Outcomes
A study testing Postpartum Acupressure Education Program in people with Breastfeeding and Lactation, run by Nigde Omer Halisdemir University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluates whether acupressure education provided to mothers within the first 48 hours postpartum improves exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6 months compared with standard postpartum care alone. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Breastfeeding, Lactation, Postpartum Period
- What is being tested?
- Postpartum Acupressure Education Program
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 360 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 25 Apr 2026to 15 Feb 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 to 45 years
- Term singleton birth (≥37 weeks of gestation)
- ≤48 hours postpartum at the time of enrollment
- Intention to breastfeed
- Ability to communicate in Turkish
- Access to a smartphone for educational materials and follow-up reminders
- Willingness to provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Contraindications to breastfeeding (e.g., infant galactosemia)
- Severe neonatal condition preventing breastfeeding
- Severe maternal medical or psychiatric condition interfering with breastfeeding
- Current opioid, alcohol, or substance dependence
- Multiple gestation pregnancy
- Severe breast injury or condition within the first 72 hours postpartum preventing breastfeeding
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Hospital
Niğde, Merkez, 51240
Pınar Erdoğan, 05233646954, pinar.erdogan@ohu.edu.tr
About this study
Official title: Effect of Postpartum Acupressure Education on Breastfeeding Outcomes: A 12-Month Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial evaluates whether acupressure education provided to mothers within the first 48 hours postpartum improves exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6 months compared with standard postpartum care alone. Mothers in the intervention group will receive structured education on self-administered acupressure at selected points and will be encouraged to continue home-based practice, while the control group will receive standard breastfeeding support. Participants will be followed for 12 months to assess breastfeeding continuation, breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding quality, and breastfeeding-related outcomes.
Read the detailed description
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding up to 12 months are strongly associated with improved maternal and infant health outcomes. Despite widespread implementation of Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative practices, early postpartum challenges often compromise breastfeeding continuation. Scalable, low-cost, self-care-based interventions that enhance maternal confidence and perceived control may support sustained breastfeeding.
This study is a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial designed to assess the effectiveness of postpartum acupressure education as an adjunct to standard breastfeeding care. Eligible mothers will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either an acupressure education plus standard care group or a standard care-only group. Acupressure education will include face-to-face instruction, printed visual materials, and a short instructional video, focusing on the acupoints CV17 (Shanzhong), ST18 (Rugen), SI1 (Shaoze), ST36 (Zusanli), and SP6 (Sanyinjiao).
The primary outcome is the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum, defined according to World Health Organization criteria. Secondary outcomes include any breastfeeding at 12 months, breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding quality, timing of complementary feeding introduction, breastfeeding-related adverse events, and maternal satisfaction. Analyses will be conducted using an intention-to-treat approach.
- Conditions
- Breastfeeding, Lactation, Postpartum Period
- Being tested
- Postpartum Acupressure Education Program
- Keywords
- Acupressure, Postpartum, Exclusive breastfeeding, Breastfeeding continuation, Breastfeeding self-efficacy
- Medical subject headings
- Breast Feeding
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Postpartum Acupressure Education ProgramOther
Structured education on self-administered acupressure provided within 48 hours postpartum, including face-to-face instruction, printed visual materials, and a short instructional video. Participants are instructed to apply acupressure at specified points twice daily at home according to the study protocol.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Acupressure Education Plus Standard Care | Experimental | Participants receive standard postpartum breastfeeding care in addition to structured education on self-administered acupressure. Acupressure education is provided within 48 hours postpartum and includes face-to-face instruction, printed visual materials, and a short instructional video. Participants are instructed to apply acupressure at the specified points twice daily at home throughout the postpartum period, according to the study protocol. Receives: Other: Postpartum Acupressure Education Program |
| Standard Care Alone | No intervention | Participants receive routine postpartum breastfeeding care and counseling according to institutional Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative practices. No acupressure education, materials, or reminders are provided. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Exclusive breastfeeding rate at 6 months postpartum
Proportion of participants exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum, assessed by maternal self-report using 24-hour recall with additional validation questions, consistent with World Health Organization definitions.
Measured: At 6 months postpartum
Secondary outcomes (7)
Any breastfeeding rate at 12 months postpartum
Proportion of participants providing any breast milk at 12 months postpartum.
Measured: At 12 months postpartum
Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) score
Total score on the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). The scale consists of 14 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5), yielding a total score ranging from 14 to 70, with higher scores indicating greater breastfeeding self-efficacy.
Measured: Baseline (≤48 hours postpartum), 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum
Breastfeeding quality score (LATCH)
Breastfeeding quality assessed using the LATCH breastfeeding assessment tool. The LATCH score consists of 5 components (Latch, Audible swallowing, Type of nipple, Comfort, Hold), each rated from 0 to 2, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate better breastfeeding performance.
Measured: Baseline (≤48 hours postpartum) and 1 month postpartum
Maternal breastfeeding satisfaction score
Maternal self-reported satisfaction with the breastfeeding experience, assessed using a single-item numeric rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicate greater breastfeeding satisfaction.
Measured: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum
Time to introduction of complementary feeding
Time from birth to first introduction of any food or liquid other than breast milk, as reported by the mother.
Measured: From birth up to 12 months postpartum
Bottle or pacifier use
Maternal report of any bottle feeding and/or pacifier use by the infant.
Measured: 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months postpartum
Breastfeeding-related adverse events
Incidence of mastitis, plugged ducts, and breastfeeding-related healthcare visits.
Measured: From baseline through 12 months postpartum
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Feb 2026
- Study start25 Apr 2026
- Primary completion15 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Feb 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for BreastfeedingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This is a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial with individual allocation in a 1:1 ratio. Participants are randomized within 48 hours postpartum to receive either postpartum acupressure education in addition to standard breastfeeding care or standard breastfeeding care alone. There is no crossover between study arms, and all participants are followed prospectively for 12 months after delivery. Outcome assessors and the statistician are blinded to group allocation.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 360 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Nigde Omer Halisdemir University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Pınar Erdoğan, Nigde Omer Halisdemir University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07410949
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 22504254-050.04-18
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 7 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared publicly. Data will be stored in a de-identified format and used solely for the purposes of the present study and related publications, in accordance with institutional ethics approval.