NCT07388732

The Effect of Abdominal Massage on Jaundice and Defecation in Newborn Babies

Effects of Abdominal Massage Applied Once and Twice Daily in Phototherapy-Treated Term Newborns on Bilirubin Levels and Defecation: Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 35 (actual)
• Sponsor: Kutahya Health Sciences University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 2 Days – 10 Days
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Hyperbilirubinemia is a common condition in term newborns and is often treated with phototherapy. It is thought that abdominal massage may increase bowel movements, thereby increasing the frequency of defecation and supporting bilirubin excretion. This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of abdominal massage, applied once or twice daily using the Vimala technique, on transcutaneous bilirubin levels and defecation frequency in hyperbilirubinemia-affected term newborns receiving phototherapy in the neonatal intensive care unit. The study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital between February 29, 2020, and August 17, 2023. A total of 35 newborns meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into three groups. Group Massage-1 received 10 minutes of abdominal massage once daily before feeding for three days (n=12). Group Massage-2 received massage twice daily for the same duration (n=10). The control group received routine care (n=13).

Conditions

• Hyper Bilirubinemia
• Phototherapy
• Jaundice, Neonatal

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Massage once a day for 3 days.	The Vimala Massage Application, before massaging, hands were washed and lubricated. The massage began with a patting motion on the newborn's abdomen, followed by clockwise circular movements and semicircles. The massage was then performed in the shapes of an I, inverted L, and U along the abdomen. Finally, a walking movement was performed with the fingertips from the right to the left side of the abdomen. Each movement was repeated six times.
OTHER	Massage twice a day for 3 days.	The Vimala Massage Application, before massaging, hands were washed and lubricated. The massage began with a patting motion on the newborn's abdomen, followed by clockwise circular movements and semicircles. The massage was then performed in the shapes of an I, inverted L, and U along the abdomen. Finally, a walking movement was performed with the fingertips from the right to the left side of the abdomen. Each movement was repeated six times.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-02-29
• Primary completion: 2023-08-17
• Completion: 2025-01-14
• First posted: 2026-02-05
• Last updated: 2026-02-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)