Effects of Maternal and Infant Massage on Breastfeeding and Mother-Infant Bonding

This study aims to evaluate the effects of different massage techniques applied to mothers and infants on breastfeeding parameters and mother-infant bonding during the postpartum period. The study will investigate whether infant massage applied by mothers, oxytocin massage applied to mothers by fathers, or the combination of both interventions improves breastfeeding outcomes and mother-infant bonding compared with standard postpartum care.

Inclusion Criteria: Mother: * Being primiparous. * Being within the first 24 hours postpartum. * Having a singleton birth. * Rooming-in with her infant during the postpartum period. * Having no physical or mental health condition that would prevent breastfeeding or participation in the study. * Being willing to regularly administer infant massage to her infant for 4 weeks postpartum. * Having no health condition that would prevent the mother or infant from receiving massage. * Being able to speak Turkish and having no condition that would interfere with communication. Father: * Being present with the mother during the postpartum period. * Being able to speak Turkish and having no condition that would interfere with communication. * Being able to regularly administer oxytocin massage to the mother for 4 weeks postpartum. Infant: * Being born at term (37-42 weeks of gestation). * Having a birth weight between 2,500 and 4,000 g. Exclusion Criteria: * The mother cannot be reached at 4 weeks postpartum. * Infant massage is performed fewer than twice per week. * Oxytocin massage is performed fewer than twice per week. * The infant is admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. * The mother develops a postpartum complication (e.g., postpartum hemorrhage or suspected infection). * Participants assigned to the oxytocin massage group administer infant massage. * Participants assigned to the infant massage group administer oxytocin massage. * Participants assigned to the control group administer either oxytocin massage or infant massage.