Reiki Therapy

The postpartum period, also defined as the fourth trimester of pregnancy, encompasses the approximately 6-8 week period following childbirth, during which the organs that underwent changes during pregnancy return to their previous state. This period is of great importance in terms of protecting the health of both mother and baby, meeting their care needs, and increasing their comfort. During the postpartum period, women experience physiological, psychological, and social changes; hormonal changes, assuming parental roles, changes in family dynamics, and increased responsibilities related to infant care can lead to adjustment difficulties. This can cause problems for the mother in both her own care and infant care. In the postpartum period, mothers may experience various health problems such as pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, infections, breastfeeding problems, hemorrhoids, constipation, urinary incontinence, depressive symptoms, and mood swings. Pain, in particular, arises due to uterine contractions, breast engorgement, nipple tenderness, and other complications, negatively affecting the mother's mobility, sleep patterns, social interaction, and quality of life. Furthermore, stress and adjustment problems experienced during the postpartum period can lead to serious psychological problems such as delayed maternal bonding, postpartum blues, postpartum depression, psychosis, and communication problems between couples. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods are used in the management of these problems. However, due to the negative effects that pharmacological methods may have during breastfeeding, interest in complementary and alternative medicine practices has increased. Reflexology, aromatherapy, music therapy, acupressure, and Reiki are among these methods. Reiki is an energy therapy method that aims to balance an individual's life energy and support the natural healing process, applied through touch or the placement of hands on specific points. Reiki application is reported to have positive effects on pain, stress, anxiety, sleep quality, and coping skills. Although it is one of the preferred methods for adapting to changes and reducing problems experienced in the postpartum period, studies directly examining the effects of Reiki application on postpartum recovery quality, comfort, and mood are quite limited. Due to its low cost, ease of application, and lack of side effects, Reiki is considered an important complementary care approach that can be used in the postpartum period. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of face-to-face Reiki treatment on the quality of postpartum healing, comfort level, and mood in women who have had cesarean deliveries, on days 1, 2, and 7 of the postpartum period.

EFFECT OF REİKİ APPLİED DURİNG THE POSTPARTUM PERİOD ON BREASTFEEDİNG, PAİN, AND COMFORT IN WOMEN WHO DELİVERED BY CESAREAN SECTİON The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the effect of Reiki applied to volunteer women after cesarean section on breastfeeding, pain, and comfort in the postpartum period. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is there a difference in postpartum breastfeeding, pain, and comfort between the group receiving Reiki and the group receiving standard care? Is there a difference in postpartum breastfeeding, pain, and comfort between the group receiving Reiki and the group receiving Sham Reiki? Participants will receive Reiki six times postpartum: three times one-on-one during their hospital stay, and remotely in the second, third, and fourth weeks. The control group will receive standard care. The Sham Reiki group will receive Reiki points applied by a person without Reiki knowledge.