The Effects of Massage during Labor on Pain and Length of Delivery in Nulliparous Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Lecturer, Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Ardabil, Ardabil, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Ardabil, Ardabil, Iran.

3 M.Sc. of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Length of delivery and labor pain, are the factors that can affect on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Doctors and researchers believe that safe and secure methods which have no complications for mother and fetus should be used to decrease the duration and severity of labor pain. Since, no fetal and maternal complication was observed in usage of non-pharmacological methods. This study was done aimed to evaluate the effects of massage on pain and length of delivery in nulliparous women.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 100 nulliparous women who were admitted in social security hospital of Ardabil, Iran for delivery in 2013. 50 women were located in case group (massage was done from the end of sacrum vertebral to Lumbar vertebral) and 50 women in control group (without massage). The massage group received massage during contractions and in cervical dilatation of 4, 6, 8 and 10 cm for 30 minutes. Then, pain intensity at the end of the second stage, duration of active phase and the second stage of labor were recorded in two groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 12, chi-square, t-test and Mann-Whitney tests. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Massage reduced the intensity of labor pain (p<0.001) and length of the first stage of labor (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Massage during labor reduces length of delivery and intensity of labor pain, and could be use as a safe and easy method without any side effects.

Keywords

References

  1. Sherman DJ, Frenkel E, Tovbin J, Arieli S, Caspi E, Bukovsky I. Ripening of the unfavorable cervix with extra umniotic catheter balloon: clinical experience and review. Obstet Gynecol Surv 1996 Oct;(51)10:621-7.
  2. Abushaikha L, Oweis A. Labour pain experience and intensity: a Jordanian perspective. Int J Nurs Pract 2005 Feb;11(1):33-8.
  3. Alellagen S, Wijma B, Lundberg U, Wijma K. Fear, pain and stress hormones during childbirth. J Psychosom Obstet Gynacol 2005 Sep;26(3):153-65.
  4. Brownridge P. The nature and cousequences of childbirth pain. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 1995 May;59 Suppl:S9-15.
  5. McCrea BH, Wright ME. Satisfaction in childbirth and perception control in pain and relief during labour. J Adv Nurs 1999 Apr:29(4):877-84.
  6. Safdari Dehcheshmaei F, Delaram M, Salehian T, Moradi M, Rahimi Madiseh M, Aliakbari F. Relief labor pain by ice massage of the hand. Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences 2009 Mar;11(1):23-9.[Article in Persian]
  7. Simkin P, Bolding A. Update in nonpharnacologic approaches to relieve labor pain and prevent suffering. J Midwifery Womens Health 2004 Nov-Dec;49(6):489-504.
  8. Roberts CL, Raynes-Greenow CH, Nassar N, Trevena L, McCaffery K. Protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a decision aid for the management of pain in labor and childbirth [ISRCTN52287533]. BMC Pregnancy Chilsbirth 2004 Dec 9;4(1):24.
  9. Melzack R, Stillwell DM, Fox EJ. Trigger points and acupuncture points for pain: correlations and implications. Pain 1977 Feb;3(1): 3-23.
  10. Cox C, Hayes J. Physiologic and psychodynamic responses to the administration of therapeutic touch in critical care. Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery 1999 Jun;5(3):87-92.
  11. Fraser J, Rose KJ. Psychological effects of back massage in elderly institionalised patients. J Adv Nurs 1995;18(2):238-45.
  12. Field TM. Massage therapy effects. Am Psychol 1997 Dec:53(12):1270-81.
  13. Field T, Hernandez RM, Taylor S, Quintino O, Burman I. Labor pain is reduced by massage therapy. J Psychosom Obstet Gynacol 1997 Dec;18(40:286-91.
  14. Chang MY, Wang SY, Chen CH. Effects of massage on pain and anxiety during labour: a randomized controlled trial in Taiwan. J Adv Nurs 2002 Apr;38(1):68-73.
  15. Tempfer C, Zeisler H, Heinzl H, Hefler L, Husslein P, Kainz C. Influence of acupuncture on maternal serum levels of interleukin-8, prostaglandin F2alpha, and beta-endorphin: a matched pair study. Obstet Gynecol 1998 Aug;92(2):245-8.
  16. Waters BL. Massage during pregnancy. New York:Bluwaters Press;2000:82-95.
  17. Waters BL, Raisler Y. Ice massage for the reduction of labor pain. J Midwifery Womens Health 2003 Sep-Oct;48(5):317-21.
  18. Chao AS, Chao A, Wang TH, Chang YC, Peng HH, Chang SD, et al. Pain relief by applying transcutaneous slsctrical nerver stimulation (TENS) on acupuncture points during the first stage of laber: a randomizes double placebo-coutrolled trial. Pain 2007 Feb;127(3):214-20.
  19. Standard acupuncture nomenclature: a brief classical acupuncture point names and their multilingual comparative list. 2nd ed. Manila:World Health Organization;1993.
  20. Abasi Z. Abedian Z, Fdaii A. [Effect of massage on the duration of first stage of labor] [Article in Persian]. J Arak Univ Med Sci 2008;11(1):63-71.
  21. Kimber L, McNabb M, Mc Court C, Haines A, Brocklehurst P. Massge or music for pain relief in labour: a pilot randomized placebo controlled trial. Eur J Pain 2008 Nov;12(8):961-9

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics