JOURNAL MIDWIFERY (JM)
Jurnal Jurusan Kebidanan.
Poltekkes Kemenkes Gorontalo P-ISSN .
E-ISSN .
8-523X)
http://jurnal.
id/index.
php/JM/index DOI: http://dx.
org/10.
52365/jm.
The Effectiveness of Oxytocin Massage Using Lemongrass Oil on Breast Milk Production in Post Partum Mother Nur Ain Tahir1.
St.
Surya Indah Nurdin2.
Fidyawati Aprianti A.
Hiola3.
Nour Arriza Dwi Melani4 Universitas Muhammadiyah Gorontalo.
Indonesia.
Universitas Muhammadiyah Gorontalo.
Indonesia.
Universitas Muhammadiyah Gorontalo.
Indonesia.
Universitas Muhammadiyah Gorontalo.
Indonesia.
Email: aintahirdj@gmail.
com1 , suryaindahnurdin@umgo.
id2 , fidyahiola@umgo.
melani@umgo.
ABSTRACT
Exclusive breastfeeding coverage in Indonesia remains at 63.
9%, below the SDGs target 80%, largely due to non-optimal breast milk production.
Non-pharmacological methods, such as oxytocin massage, may enhance milk production, and its effectiveness can be increased with lemongrass of oxytocin massage with lemongrass oil on breast milk production in postpartum women.
This study was conducted in Tilongkabila subdistrict.
Bone Bolango, using a quasi-experimental pretestAeposttest design with a control group method, involving 24 postpartum women selected purposively and divided into an intervention group and a control group.
The intervention was carried out for five consecutive days, involving measurement of breast milk volume using a manual pump and a self-report questionnaire for mothers.
The Mann-Whitney analysis showed a significant increase in breast milk volume in the intervention group compared to the control group .
< 0.
Mothers received oxytocin massage using lemongrass oil demonstrated greater and more consistent milk production, alongside improved relaxation and comfort.
It can be concluded that oxytocin massage using lemongrass oil is effective in increasing breast milk production in postpartum women and can be recommended as a simple, affordable, and safe complementary therapy to support the success of the exclusive breastfeeding program.
Keywords: Breast Milk Production.
Lemongrass Oil.
Oxytocin Massage.
Postpartum Mothers A2025 Nur Ain Tahir.
St.
Surya Indah Nurdin.
Fidyawati Aprianti A.
Hiola.
Nour Arriza Dwi Melan Under the licence CC BY-SA 4.
* Nur Ain Tahir.
Universitas Muhammadiyah Gorontalo,Jl.
Pro.
Dr.
Mansoer Pateda Desa Pentadio Timur Kecamtan Telaga Biru Kabupaten Gorontalo, 96181.
Indonesia.
aintahirdj@gmail.
Nur Ain Tahir1.
St.
Surya Indah Nurdin2.
Fidyawati Aprianti A.
Hiola3.
Nour Arriza Dwi Melani4/ Journal Midwifery Vol.
No.
2, 2025 .
one of the provinces that has not yet
INTRODUCTION
Breast milk is a liquid that comes from the secretion of breast glands containing a solution of protein, lactose and organic salts (Pratamaningtyas et al.
, 2.
The many nutrients contained in breast milk can form immunoglobin which plays an important role in fighting bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites and there are essential fatty acids that can help the formation of children's brains (Nurita, 2.
Malnutrition due to not getting breast milk can affect cognitive development, morbidity and mortality of infants which can result in growth fattering .
ailure to gro.
which disrupts growth and development such as children's height that is not in accordance with age or what is (Hidayah Anggraini, 2.
Exclusive breastfeeding rates still have not reached the ideal target globally and Based on reports from WHO and UNICEF in 2022 there are around 80% of babies who get breast milk at the beginning of birth, but only 43.
8% get exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months (WHO, 2.
The exclusive breastfeeding rate in Indonesia in 2023 was 9%, which exceeded the national target of 50% in 2023 but still did not meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG.
target of 80% (Kementrian Kesehatan.
Meanwhile.
Gorontalo province is reached the national target of 2023 with a Exclusive Gorontalo Province varies by district and city.
Gorontalo City has the highest exclusive breastfeeding coverage .
4%), followed by Boalemo District .
6%).
Gorontalo District .
9%),
Pohuwato District .
4%).
Bone Bolango District .
North (Dinas Gorontalo District Kesehatan Provinsi Gorontalo, 2.
Breast milk production in postpartum mothers can be influenced by several including the mother's age, education, occupation, parity, and gestational age at Based on lactation theory, the hormones prolactin and oxytocin, which are triggered by stimulation of the breasts and the baby, will increase after delivery and are influenced by the mother's physical and psychological condition (Leiwakabessy & Azriani, 2.
The factor causing the low coverage of breast milk production which is influenced by various factors, one of which is maternal psychological disorders that can affect the production of prolactin and oxytocin Both hormones, if not produced optimally, will affect the breastfeeding Nur Ain Tahir1.
St.
Surya Indah Nurdin2.
Fidyawati Aprianti A.
Hiola3.
Nour Arriza Dwi Melani4/ Journal Midwifery Vol.
No.
2, 2025 .
reflex which results in non-optimal breast stems of lemongrass plants through a vapor milk production (Delvina et al.
, 2.
The hormone oxytocin is produced at the therapeutic aroma in the form of essential back of the pituitary gland which is (Khasanah et al.
, 2.
Lemongrass produced by stimulation either from the essential oil contains bioactive compounds baby's suction or from external stimuli such that function as antidepressants, analgesic as massage.
Oxytocin hormone plays an and anti-inflammatory which are very important role in the let-down reflex or the beneficial for postpartum women (Hartatie process of releasing breast milk because et al.
, 2.
The antidepressants contained this hormone is formed faster than prolactin in lemongrass can help reduce anxiety, fear hormone so that the alveolus filling is and anxiety so that it can have an effect in Based on the results of previous improving blood circulation so that the combination of complementary methods especially anxiety in breastfeeding mothers, between oxytocin massage and lemongrass can affect milk production so that the oil is considered effective in helping breast concentration of oxytocin in the blood is milk production (Hartatie et al.
, 2.
also affected (Walter et al.
, 2.
Other There are several ways that can overcome magnesium and potassium content in the lack of breast milk production, one of lemongrass regulates muscle, heart, and non-pharmacological nerve function.
This is beneficial for therapies such as oxytocin massage whose increasing breast milk production and success can be supported by the provision providing relaxation for nursing mothers, of aroma therapy.
The use of aroma therapy thereby improving the quality of life for is not only by inhalation but can also be postpartum mothers (Astuti et al.
, 2.
used as a massage spread (Jania et al.
A journal between oxytocin massage and expressed Oxytocin discussing the relationship milk production shows that massage has a significant relationship with breastfeeding mothers feel relaxed and increased milk production in postpartum relieve discomfort by reducing epinephrine mothers on days 1-3.
This massage helps and non-epinephrine levels and stimulating stimulate the hormone oxytocin, which the performance of endorphin hormone plays a role in increasing milk production (Silviani et al.
, 2.
Lemongrass oil is an and supporting the smooth process of essential oil extracted from the leaves and Support from family and Nur Ain Tahir1.
St.
Surya Indah Nurdin2.
Fidyawati Aprianti A.
Hiola3.
Nour Arriza Dwi Melani4/ Journal Midwifery Vol.
No.
2, 2025 .
other breast care methods also play a role in increasing breastfeeding success.
Thus, aromatherapy are still very limited.
In fact, oxytocin massage can be one of the efforts compounds with antidepressant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as (Cymbopogon mothers (Rostiana et al.
, 2.
promoting relaxation and blood circulation.
Research on the effect of oxytocin massage which theoretically could be more optimal with chamomile aromatherapy on breast in supporting milk production.
Therefore, milk production in postpartum women this study aims to fill this gap by examining showed that the smooth production of the effectiveness of oxytocin massage using breast milk after the intervention was lemongrass oil on breast milk production in postpartum mothers, which has not been (Umbarawati et al.
, 2.
A study widely explored previously.
evaluating the effectiveness of oxytocin massage on breast milk production in METHODE postpartum mothers stated that oxytocin This study was conducted in Tilongkabila District.
Bone Bolango Regency, production by 1.
54 ml every day (Yorita et Gorontalo.
Tilongkabila District has two , 2.
community health centers (Puskesma.
and Based on the results of previous studies, it covers a working area consisting of 14 was found that the average volume of Between January and March 2025, there were 37 postpartum mothers recorded combination of oxytocin massage and in Tilongkabila District.
This number was lavender aromatherapy was 7.
38 cc, and based on data from the two health centers, after the intervention it was 78 cc in 5 day with 15 postpartum mothers from the intervention (Nataria et al.
, 2.
Tilongkabila Health Center service area and Several previous studies have proven the 23 from the Toto Utara Health Center effectiveness of oxytocin massage in service area.
During the same period, there increasing milk production in postpartum were 76 infants aged under six months in Other studies have also shown that Tilongkabila District, of whom only 7 .
1%) were exclusively breastfed.
aromatherapy, such as chamomile and The method used in this research is Quashi lavender, can increase milk flow.
However.
Experiment with pretest-posttest research studies combining oxytocin massage with design with control group design.
The Nur Ain Tahir1.
St.
Surya Indah Nurdin2.
Fidyawati Aprianti A.
Hiola3.
Nour Arriza Dwi Melani4/ Journal Midwifery Vol.
No.
2, 2025 .
points in the questionnaire included the release of milk from the nipple, the feeling sampling method based in inclusion and of breast tension before breastfeeding, the exclusion criteria, with a total of 24 frequency of breastfeeding the baby >8 postpartum mother in Tilongkabila District times .
- 40 minutes per breastfeedin.
, divided into two group.
12 respondents in the frequency of the baby urinating >6 - 8 the intervention group and 12 respondents times, defecating >2 - 5 times, the baby in the control group.
The sample sixe was sleeping or calm for 2 - 4 hours after determined using the Slovin formula with a Breast milk production was 10% error rate from a total population of 34 said to be smooth if the questionnaire score was 5 - 6, moderately smooth with a score represented 70,5% of the population, which of 3 - 4, and less smooth with a score of 1 - was considered sufficiently representative and met the minimum requirements for The intervention was conducted for 5 statistical analysis.
consecutive days every morning with a The inclusion criteria were postpartum complementary certified therapist.
Pretest women from day 4 to day 8, did not have was conducted on the first day of medical conditions that could affect breast intervention, which was the fourth day Posttest was conducted on the facilitating drugs, had not received other fifth day of intervention, which was on the eighth day of postpartum between the 6th to facilitate breast milk, did not have allergies 12th hour after the last intervention.
to lemongrass and other oils.
Exclusion Measurement of breast milk volume was criteria were postpartum women who took done using a manual breast pump for 30 breast milk-enhancing drugs, had received minutes in each breast.
complementary therapy to facilitate breast Data analysis used the Wilcoxon Signed milk, and had a history of allergy to Rank lemongrass or other oils.
differences before and after the intervention Before This of each group and the Mann-Withney test to determine between two unpaired groups.
observed the volume of breast milk production using a questionnaire sheet.
The Nur Ain Tahir1.
St.
Surya Indah Nurdin2.
Fidyawati Aprianti A.
Hiola3.
Nour Arriza Dwi Melani4/ Journal Midwifery Vol.
No.
2, 2025 .
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Result Table 1.
Distribution of Breast Milk Production Categories of Postpartum Women Before and After Oxytocin Massage Using Lemongrass Oil in The Intervention Group Fluency category Intervention Group Total Moderately Less Fluent Fluent Pre Test Post Test Source: Primary data, 2025 Based on Table 1, it shows that breast milk production in postpartum women in Tilongkabila sub-distric before being given oxytocin massage using lemongrass oil is mostly in the substandard category with 11 mother .
,7%) and no mothers who have a smooth breast milk production After the intervention of oxytocin massage using lemongrass oil, all 12 respondents .
%) experienced Tabel 2.
Distribution of Breast Milk Production Categories of Postpartum Women Before and After Oxytocin Massage Using Lemongrass Oil in The Control Group Fluency category Control Group Total Moderately Less Fluent Fluent Pre Test Post Test Source: Primary data, 2025 The table above shows the category of breast milk production of postpartum women before and after in the control group, where there were 11 mother .
,7%) who experienced substandard breast milk production.
In the post test conducted by the examiner, 11 mother who experienced substandard breast milk production had become 9 mothers .
%) and 2 other mothers changed to fairly smooth, but there were no respondents with smooth breast milk production.
Tabel 3.
Distribution of Mean Breast Milk Volume Gain in Postpartum Women Who Were Given Oxytocin Massage Using Lemongrass Oil and Postpartum Women Who Were Not Given Any Intervention Average increase in breast milk production .
Group
Pre Test
Post Test
Min Max
Average Min Max
Average Intervention Control
Source: Primary data, 2025
29,17
104,17
27,50
Based on the data in the table above, the and increased to 104,17 ml.
Meanwhile, average in breast milk volume in the the control group experienced a change in previous intervention group was 29,17 ml breast milk volume from 27,5 ml to 30 ml.
Nur Ain Tahir1.
St.
Surya Indah Nurdin2.
Fidyawati Aprianti A.
Hiola3.
Nour Arriza Dwi Melani4/ Journal Midwifery Vol.
No.
2, 2025 .
Table 4 Average Increase in Breast Milk Volume in Intervention and Control Groups Breast Milk Production Mean Rank Min Max Intervention 104,17 Control p-value Source: Primer data, 2025 Based on statistical tests conducted by value was 30 with a minimum of 20 and a researchers, the number of samples used maximum of 40.
Significant p value 0.
was 12 postpartum women for each group < 0.
This figure shows a significant in Tilongkabila District with an average effect on the intervention group against the value of 104.
17 in the intervention group control group before and after the increase with a minimum of 60 and a maximum of in breast milk production in postpartum 180, while in the control group the average women in Tilongkabila District.
Discussion characterized by breast milk that did not Breastmilk Fluency Category in The seep and breasts that were not tense before Intervention Group breastfeeding were due to mothers who did Breast milk production in postpartum not have knowledge about how to produce women before oxytocin massage using enough breast milk, mothers had entered lemongrass oil was found that most of the the Taking Hold phase where mothers began to feel tired taking care of their substandard breast milk production as babies so that it disrupted rest patterns and many as 11 mothers .
7%) and 1 mother mothers rarely breastfed and did not .
3%) experienced moderately smooth breast milk production and no mother had position so that the child's suction power a smooth breast milk production category.
After oxytocin massage using lemongrass oil (Cymbopogon citratu.
, it can be seen production was small.
from the number of postpartum mothers This is in accordance with the theory put who experienced smooth breast milk from forward by Himalaya & Maryani .
none to 12 mothers .
%) who became that education about lactation management is very important to increase mothers The results of the study conducted before giving oxytocin massage using lemongrass process, the benefits of breastfeeding, and oil, all respondents who experienced how to overcome common problems that Nur Ain Tahir1.
St.
Surya Indah Nurdin2.
Fidyawati Aprianti A.
Hiola3.
Nour Arriza Dwi Melani4/ Journal Midwifery Vol.
No.
2, 2025 .
arise such as insufficient milk production Previous research on educating postpartum (Himalaya & Maryani, 2.
mothers and families on oxytocin massage The previous research found that disturbed using lemongrass oil has shown an psychological conditions in postpartum increase in mothers' knowledge and skills mothers can interfere with the oxytocin reflex that aids in milk production lemongrass oil to facilitate breast milk (Kurniawan This This accordance with the results of previous widely applied in the community (Jayanti research by Agustina et al.
where & Patriani, 2.
stress and fatigue can increase the risk of postpartum depression, which in turn can interfere with the mother's ability to breastfeed effectively so that it interferes with milk production (Agustina et al.
control group The category of breast milk fluency of postpartum women before and after the intervention in the control group, where In a previous study with the title "The Effect of Oxytocin Massage on Breast Milk Production in Postpartum Mothers" showed an 11.
667 times chance of Category of breast milk fluency in the production for mothers who were given oxytocin massage with mothers who were not given oxytocin massage, as well as providing the impact of relaxation and comfort to breastfeeding mothers (Hidayah & Anggraini, 2.
The effect that can occur if breast milk production cannot be maximized, such as sore nipples, breast swelling, and blocked milk ducts, often appear, especially in the first few weeks after giving birth, which can lead to infection (Kurniawati & Srianingsih, 2.
there were 11 mothers .
7%) who In the post test conducted by production had become 9 mothers .
%) and 2 other mothers changed to quite smooth, but there were no respondents with smooth breast milk production.
Based on these values, it can be seen that the control group experienced a change in This can be attributed to the multiparous parity.
Multiparous mothers usually have better milk production due to their experience Nur Ain Tahir1.
St.
Surya Indah Nurdin2.
Fidyawati Aprianti A.
Hiola3.
Nour Arriza Dwi Melani4/ Journal Midwifery Vol.
No.
2, 2025 .
Based on the analysis of this were only 3 mothers .
%) out of 12 study, most of the respondents were These results support that the primiparous .
8%), which means this provision of oxytocin massage was their first experience in breastfeeding.
lemongrass oil has a significant impact on This increasing breast milk volume.
first-time mothers often experience barriers to Based on the researchers' primary data, the increase in breast milk volume in mothers intervention (Delvina et al.
, 2.
who were given oxytocin massage using A study using chi-square analysis found lemongrass oil that there was a significant association increase in breast milk volume occurred in between parity status and breastfeeding 4 mothers by 100 Ae 160 ml where the four techniques applied by postpartum mothers, mothers were multiparous mothers who with a p value = 0.
01 indicating that had previous breastfeeding experience.
mothers who had breastfed previously Meanwhile, the other respondents with an were more capable of applying the correct average increase in breast milk volume breastfeeding techniques, demonstrating that previous breastfeeding experience can primiparous parity.
The control group that assist mothers in producing sufficient milk experienced an increase in breast milk during breastfeeding (Leiwakabessy & volume occurred in 3 mothers .
%) who Azriani, 2.
were multiparous mothers.
A significant The results of the delta calculation of The Average Increase in Breast Milk Volume The average increase in breast milk volume in the previous intervention group 17 ml and increased to 104.
17 ml, while the control group also experienced changes in breast milk volume but not significantly from 27.
50 to 30 ml.
This can be seen from the status of increasing breast milk volume where all postpartum women in the intervention group experienced an increase in breast milk volume while postpartum women in the control group breast milk volume in the control group and the intervention group showed a significant difference.
The average volume of the intervention group after being given oxytocin massage using lemongrass oil increased by 75 ml, while in the control group, the average increase in breast milk volume was 2.
5 ml.
Based on the results of previous research conducted by Damayanti and colleagues.
on the Effectiveness of Oxytocin Massage Production and Breast Post Care on Milk Partum Mothers Nur Ain Tahir1.
St.
Surya Indah Nurdin2.
Fidyawati Aprianti A.
Hiola3.
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2, 2025 .
explaining that there is an increase in milk control group before and after the increase production seen from the volume of breast in breast milk production in postpartum milk pumped where on the first day the women in Tilongkabila District.
volume of breast milk was 5 drops of Previous research entitled AuThe Effect of colostrum then increased to 130 ml Lemongrass (Damayanti Research Compassionate Lactation Massage on conducted by Kholila et al.
stated Breast Milk Production in Postpartum that the effectiveness of this massage can Mothers at the Ciomas Health CenterAy also be supported by giving aromatherapy.
Apart from being inhaled, the use of significant effect on increasing breast milk aromatherapy can also be applied to be volume when administered in conjunction applied directly to the skin, mixed with with massage, compared to massage alone water for soaking and used as massage oil (Subagio et al.
, 2.
(Kholilah et al.
, 2.
Based on the results of the study, the use According to Suci .
the type of of lemongrass oil as a medium for breast milk in postpartum women from oxytocin massage has advantages over day four to day eight is classified as transitional breast milk where the volume chamomile and lavender because, in of transitional breast milk will increase by addition to providing a relaxing effect, 50 Ae 300 ml.
This is in line with the results lemongrass also contains citral compounds of the current research and previous that act as natural stimulants in improving research (Nurita, 2.
blood circulation and accelerating the Aromatherapy Oil oxytocin reflex.
Lemongrass is also a Breast Milk Production in Postpartum Mothers Based on the results of the study, the mean value of breast milk production before treatment was 65.
00 and a minimum value of 30 and a maximum of 160, after treatment was 2.
50 with a minimum value of 10 and a maximum of 40 in the variable after with a significant p value of 0.
This figure shows a significant effect between the intervention group and the traditional plant that is easier to cultivate than other herbal plants.
When compared to studies using chamomile, breast milk production showed an increase of 50% (Umbarawati et al.
, 2.
Using lavender recorded a 70.
65 cc surge in breast milk volume after intervention (Yorita et al.
The combination of oxytocin massage using lemongrass oil in this study significant increase, namely from 75 cc in the intervention Nur Ain Tahir1.
St.
Surya Indah Nurdin2.
Fidyawati Aprianti A.
Hiola3.
Nour Arriza Dwi Melani4/ Journal Midwifery Vol.
No.
2, 2025 .
This shows that lemongrass oil has Statistical test results showed that the the potential to be superior in supporting the effectiveness of oxytocin massage in volume in the intervention group increasing breast milk production.
lemongrass oil was 60 ml and CONCLUSION Oxytocin massage using lemongrass oil was proven effective in increasing the smoothness and volume of breast milk production in postpartum women.
Based Effectiveness of Oxytocin Massage Using Lemongrass Oil (Cymbopogon citratu.
on Increasing Breast Milk Production in Postpartum Mothers Tilongkabila The Mann-Whitney test results in the intervention group and control group showed a significance value of p = 000 .
= <0.
This shows that between the breast milk fluency score before and after oxytocin massage using lemongrass oil.
District, it can be concluded that:
The results of statistical tests found THANK YOU that a total of 12 mothers .
%) who Thanks to St.
Surya Indah Nurdin.
Fidyawati Aprianti A.
Hiola and Nour experienced an increase in breast milk Arizza Dwi Melani as the team involved volume, while in the control group during this research process.
experienced an increase.
BIBLIOGRAPHY