The most appropriate cervical dilatation for massage to reduce labor pain and anxiety: a randomized clinical trial

The effect of acupressure and massage on labor pain and birth satisfaction: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to determine the effect of acupressure and massage used for the management of labor pain in the latent, active, and transition phases of the first stage of labor on labor pain and birth satisfaction.

METHODS

The study was conducted with 66 pregnant women who met the sampling criteria and participated voluntarily at a public hospital in Nicosia. The participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a massage group, an acupressure group, or a control group. Participants in the massage group received 10 min of sacral massage during contraction and 10 min of endorphin massage during rest, for a total of 30 min of massage per phase. Participants in the acupressure group received 3 min of acupressure to the LI 4 point at the same dilation intervals, when the contraction was most intense. The control group received no intervention. Pain perceived by the pregnant woman was evaluated with the Visual Comparison Scale (VAS) at the beginning and end of each phase. Postpartum, the Birth Satisfaction Scale was applied.

RESULTS

Massage application was found to be more effective in reducing labor pain than acupressure or the control group. Massage and acupressure did not negatively affect APGAR scores. The lowest oxytocin use was found in the massage group. The group with the highest birth satisfaction scores was also the massage group.

CONCLUSION

Massage application is more effective than acupressure application in reducing labor pain and increasing birth satisfaction.

Effect of lite touch on the anxiety of low-risk pregnant women in the latent phase of childbirth: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction

Women with perinatal anxiety have reduced coping capacity during labor, which affects labor progress and increases the likelihood of a cesarean section. Several non-pharmacological interventions for anxiety during childbirth are available. This study used the "lite touch" method, a non-pharmacological intervention based on physiological responses and obstetric clinical experience in women. We aimed to evaluate whether lite touch could relieve perinatal anxiety and investigate the effect of light skin stroking on the maternal hormones, catecholamine, and cortisol.

Methods

This randomized clinical trial involved women with low-risk singleton pregnancies at full term or near term. Eligible pregnant women who were latent and did not undergo epidural anesthesia were randomized into two groups. Participants in the intervention group underwent routine prenatal care, including lite touch, whereas the control group underwent routine prenatal care alone. Demographic data were collected through a questionnaire. Labor anxiety was assessed using the State Anxiety Inventory, and saliva was collected before and after the intervention. Changes in saliva cortisol and catecholamine levels were analyzed using a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

In total, 83 participants were included, with 43 and 40 in the intervention and control groups, respectively. In the intervention group, pre-intervention anxiety scores were significantly lower (p < 0.01) than post-intervention anxiety scores, whereas the control group showed no difference in anxiety scores before and after intervention (p > 0.05). Cortisol and catecholamine levels in saliva were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group after the intervention (p < 0.01).

Discussion

Lite touch can reduce the latent anxiety state of low-risk pregnant women, thereby maintaining in vivo stability and facilitating labor.

Clinical trial registration

https://www.chictr.org.cn/aboutEN.html, ChiCTR2300070905, Retrospectively Registered Date: April 26, 2023.