The Effect of Endorphin Massage Applied to Postpartum Women on Anxiety and Fatigue Levels

The postpartum period, especially in the first few weeks, can be a difficult period for mothers to adapt to the new situation of having a baby. During this process, physiological, psychological and social changes occur in the mother's body. While many mothers adapt to these changes easily, some mothers may experience psychological disorders at different levels.Among these, anxiety and depression are the most common diseases. Anxiety can negatively affect mothers, especially during birth and the postpartum period.During the postpartum period, nurses have the opportunity to improve maternal and infant health by recognizing and treating anxiety.Physical symptoms associated with postpartum anxiety include fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances. However, during the vaginal birth process, mothers may feel tired in the early postpartum period, as the pregnant woman spends a lot of energy by staying hungry for a long time. When the literature was examined, it was determined that endorphin massage reduces back pain in pregnant women, reduces anxiety level in pregnant women, accelerates the involution process in the postpartum period, and has positive effects on postpartum depression.Similar to endorphin massage, it has been determined that back massage reduces back pain in the postpartum period and provides the mother with both physiological and psychological relief. In addition, no study has been found examining the effect of endorphin massage applied to postpartum women on anxiety levels and fatigue in the postpartum period. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of endorphin massage applied to postpartum women who gave birth vaginally on postpartum anxiety and fatigue levels.

Birth is a very important experience in a woman's life. The postpartum period is a period of 6-8 weeks after birth. During this process, physiological, psychological and social changes occur in the puerperal woman's body. While many postpartum women easily adapt to these changes, some postpartum women may experience psychological disorders at different levels. Anxiety can negatively affect postpartum women, especially during birth and the postpartum period. Although it is generally desirable to experience anxiety at a normal and mild level, excessive anxiety can tire the individual emotionally.In addition, postpartum women may feel tired in the early postpartum period due to the pregnant woman fasting for a long time and spending too much energy during the vaginal birth process.This situation can be caused by many physical, psychological and situational factors. Postpartum fatigue can lead to deterioration in the general health of the mother and her baby, as well as other serious problems.Postpartum fatigue negatively affects women's physical and mental functions, wound healing, self-care skills and behaviors, energy, motivation and cognitive status, adaptation to motherhood, baby care behaviors, relationships with marriage and family members, including sexuality, work performance and quality of life. is a symptom.In this process, applications applied to postpartum women increase the quality of life by reducing fatigue.Endorphin massage is among the practices performed to improve the quality of life of women during the postpartum period. Endorphin is a natural painkiller known as the happiness hormone, which is similar to opioids secreted by the body, reduces pain, provides relaxation, protects the body against infections, accelerates metabolism. It is known that massage increases endorphin levels by having a relaxing effect on the muscles. Endorphin massage increases the release of endorphins, allowing the individual to relax, relaxing the muscles and reducing pain. Endorphin massage is a light massage technique that can increase the release of oxytocin and endorphin hormones and provide a feeling of calmness and comfort. When the literature was examined, it was determined that endorphin massage reduces back pain in pregnant women, reduces anxiety level in pregnant women, accelerates the involution process in the postpartum period, and has positive effects on postpartum depression.Similar to endorphin massage, it has been determined that back massage reduces back pain in the postpartum period and provides the mother with both physiological and psychological relief. In addition, no study has been found examining the effect of endorphin massage applied to postpartum women on anxiety levels and fatigue in the postpartum period. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of endorphin massage applied to postpartum women who gave birth vaginally on postpartum anxiety and fatigue levels.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Giving birth vaginally at term,
* Postpartum within 24 hours,
* Primiparous,
* Those who are healthy and have given birth to a single baby,
* Postpartum women who volunteered to participate in the study were included.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Those with psychiatric illness (Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder),
* People with chronic diseases (Heart disease, Thyroid problems, Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, asthma, COPD,
* Those who have been diagnosed with a risky pregnancy (Pre-eclampsia, Arthritis, Pregnancy-related hypertension, Gestational diabetes),
* Whose baby was admitted to neonatal intensive care,
* Postpartum women with postpartum bleeding were not included in the study.