The effect of an abdominal binder on pain, bleeding and breastfeeding success after cesarean delivery: A randomized controlled trial.

This randomized controlled intervention study aims to determine the effect of an abdominal binder on pain, bleeding, and breastfeeding success after cesarean delivery. The study was conducted with women who underwent cesarean section and were followed-up for the first 48 hours at the obstetrics clinic of a state hospital in Türkiye between September 2020-March 2021. The study was completed with a total of 128 women who met the inclusion criteria (Intervention (IG):64, Control (CG):64). Data were collected using a "Socio-demographic Form" and "Postpartum Follow-up Form." Statistical significance was defined as p < .05. The IG showed significantly lower pain scores in both the abdominal area (uterine involution) and cesarean incision compared to the CG (p < .001), (respectively, IG:0.19 ± 0.58 vs. CG:1.33 ± 1.16; IG:0.23 ± 0.61 vs. CG:0.75 ± 1.26). The amount of puerperal bleeding was significantly lower in the IG (p < .001) (IG:327.65 ± 112.61 mL vs. CG:402.61 ± 157.45 mL), and their hemoglobin and hematocrit values were significantly higher (p < .05) (Hemoglobin, IG:11.00 ± 0.78 g/dL vs. CG:10.62 ± 0.90 g/dL; Hematocrit, IG:34.54 ± 1.79 percent vs. CG:33.51 ± 2.56 percent). The breastfeeding success scores were significantly higher in the IG (p < .001) (IG:9.97 ± 0.17 vs. CG:9.81 ± 0.43). These data demonstrate that the abdominal binder is beneficial and applicable for reducing pain, bleeding, and for improving breastfeeding success in the first 48 hours after cesarean delivery.