Impact of Four-square Breathing Technique on Afterpains and Postpartum Blues: Effect of Non-pharmacological Therapy

Each woman experiences labor in her own unique way, making childbirth a special and memorable event. However, most new mothers face common discomforts such as postpartum blues and afterpains, which may affect their early recovery. A simple deep breathing method called "four-square breathing" has been shown to slow breathing, lower stress levels, and ease physical discomfort. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the four-square breathing technique on postnatal mothers' levels of afterpains and postpartum blues at selected hospitals in District Mohali, Punjab. The study used a quasi-experimental design and a quantitative research methodology. 120 postpartum mothers were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique, including 60 participants in each of the experimental and control groups. For three days in a row, the experimental group was instructed and given the four-square breathing technique, while the control group was given regular care. On the fourth day of the evaluation, postpartum blues were measured using a self-structured rating scale and afterpains were measured using a numerical pain rating scale. SPSS Version 18 was used to analyze the data at a significance level of p < 0.05. A significant difference was observed in the mean afterpain scores, with an unpaired t-value of 5.987, which exceeded the table value of 1.980 at the 0.05 level. A significant difference was also found in postpartum blues scores, with an unpaired t-value of 10.641. The study concluded that four-square breathing is a cost-effective, safe, alternative method of lowering postpartum blues and afterpains in new mothers.