OPTIMALISASI KESEHATAN MENTAL IBU NIFAS MELALUI MASSASE POSTPARTUM DALAM PENCEGAHAN BABY BLUES DI PUSKESMAS MEDAN LABUHAN KOTA MEDAN

Abstract

Baby blues syndrome is a psychological condition frequently experienced by mothers during the postpartum period due to hormonal changes, physical exhaustion, and a lack of social support. If not addressed early, this condition can impact maternal health, breastfeeding success, and infant growth and development. This community service activity aimed to increase postpartum mothers' knowledge regarding postpartum mental health and baby blues prevention, enhance the understanding and skills of mothers and their families in performing postpartum massage, and evaluate the impact of the education and training on improving knowledge, skills, and baby blues prevention efforts. The activity was conducted on June 25, 2026, at the Medan Labuhan Community Health Center in Medan City, targeting 30 postpartum mothers (0–42 days postpartum), their families, health volunteers, and healthcare professionals. The methods employed included health education sessions, discussions, demonstrations, hands-on practice, mentoring, and evaluation via pre-tests, post-tests, and observation of postpartum massage skills. The results showed that the attendance target for postpartum mothers was fully met (100%). The participants' average knowledge score rose from 61.8 in the pre-test to 89.7 in the post-test. Additionally, 90% of participants were able to correctly perform postpartum massage techniques according to established procedures. In conclusion, this community service activity successfully improved the knowledge, skills, and awareness of postpartum mothers and their families regarding postpartum mental health and the application of postpartum massage as a non-pharmacological measure to prevent baby blues syndrome.