Effect of Reflexology on Pain, Fatigue, Sleep Quality, and Lactation in Postpartum Primiparous Women After Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This article focuses on a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of foot reflexology on postpartum pain, fatigue, sleep quality, and breastfeeding efficacy in primiparous women following cesarean delivery. The study involved 80 women randomly assigned to either a reflexology group, receiving weekly 40-minute foot reflexology sessions for eight weeks, or a control group receiving standard care with rest. Results showed that reflexology significantly reduced pain—resolving it by week 4 compared to week 7 in controls—decreased fatigue by 36.9%, improved energy levels by 48.0%, enhanced sleep quality by 70.7%, and increased breastfeeding success by 20.2%. The findings suggest that foot reflexology is a safe, non-pharmacological intervention that may support recovery and breastfeeding in the postpartum period after cesarean delivery.