Effect of Dill Seed Tea on Lactation Among Postnatal Mothers Admitted in Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Breastfeeding is the most beneficial initial nourishment for newborns in terms of health outcomes. Galactagogues are substances that aid in increasing milk production. Galactagogues include herbs such as dill seeds, fenugreek, as well as medications like metoclopramide and domperidone. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of dill seeds tea in promoting lactation among postnatal mothers admitted to a tertiary care hospital. A quasi-experimental research design with a quantitative approach was employed, and data was collected using a convenient sampling technique from 60 postnatal mothers, with 30 participants assigned to the quasi-experimental group and 30 to the control group. The quasi-experimental group received dill seeds tea in the morning for five days, consisting of 1 teaspoon of dill seeds, 200 ml of water, 1 teaspoon of jaggery, and half a teaspoon of cow ghee. The sample selection followed specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The research tools utilized in the study included a questionnaire to gather demographic and obstetrical data, as well as a Likert scale to assess breastfeeding adequacy in postnatal mothers. The study results revealed that during the pre-test, the majority of the control group (86.7%) experienced inadequate lactation, while 13.3% had satisfactory lactation. In the experimental group, the majority (93.3%) had inadequate lactation, with only 6.7% experiencing satisfactory lactation. During the post-test, the control group had a majority of 76.7% with inadequate lactation. In contrast, the experimental group had 80% with adequate lactation and 20% with satisfactory lactation. The study’s findings indicate that the majority of postnatal mothers in both the experimental and control groups initially experienced insufficient breast milk production, but after receiving dill seeds tea, lactation improved among the postnatal mothers. Therefore, it can be concluded that dill seeds tea was effective in enhancing lactation in postnatal mothers.