Title:
Effectiveness of Onigirishibori Asa Self-care Technique for Weaning: A Study Using Intra Breast Ultrasound Imaging

Authors:
Mami Nishikage, Yumiko Tateoka ＆ Fuyuki Itani, Japan

Abstract:

Objective: To anatomically verify the effectiveness of the “compression (onigirishibori)” methods of the breast for weaning from breastfeeding for mammary gland involution using intramammary ultrasound images.

Results: This observational, prospective, longitudinal study was conducted from June2020to July December 2023 and included 13 mothers who had decided to wean. We assigned them to the onigirishibori (n=9) and manual milking groups (n=4). The thickness of the mammary cavity was longitudinally observed from the day before weaning until 30 days after weaning. Ultrasound images revealed that the thickness of the mammary gland cavity was decreased in all the participants and differed significantly between the onigirishibori and manual milking groups, by 1 point in the right breast (30 days after weaning) and 4 points in the left breast (days 1, 3, 7 and 30 after weaning). The USG images showing the involution of the mammary glands from the beginning of weaning revealed that onigirishibori, without nipple stimulation, was effective in suppressing milk production by inhibiting the secretion of lactogenic hormone and avoiding milk stasis. The onigirishibori technique applies pressure from the breast-shaped body part and has been shown to be effective in preventing milk stasis in the duct of milk.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijmshr.2024.8604