Positioning intervention to minimize fatigue in breastfeeding women

Nursing interventions to enhance breastfeeding affect the health of mothers and babies. Fatigue may interfere with breastfeeding, so interventions minimizing fatigue are important. This repeated measures study of 20 postpartum women investigated the relative efficacy of one intervention, promoting use of the side-lying position. Using the Modified Fatigue Symptoms Checklist, fatigue was measured after breastfeeding in two positions. In mothers who had vaginal deliveries (n = 14), significantly less fatigue was reported following nursing in the side-lying versus the sitting position. Instruction regarding restfulness of the side-lying position should be considered as part of routine postpartum or home health nursing care.