Delivery Pain and Postpartum Comfort

Effects of Acupressure and Shower Applied in the Delivery on the Intensity of Labor Pain and Postpartum Comfort

In this study was aimed that acupressure applied on the BL32 point and shower application reduced the intensity of labor pain experienced by the pregnant women in the active phase of labor and increased their postpartum comfort

Acupressure and shower are methods that can help reduce pain severity. This study thus aims to determine the effects of acupressure and shower on labour pain and postpartum comfort. This study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT). This study was the control group consisted of 40 pregnant women, while the experimental groups (acupressure and shower) consisted of 80 pregnant women in total. The experimental groups received routine labour care and either acupressure or showers upon reaching three cervical dilations (4-5, 6-7 and 8-10 cm). The control group only received routine labour care. A maternal information form (MIF), the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VASP) and the Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire (PPCQ) were used to collect data. CONSORT checklist was used to report the current study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The inclusion criteria were being 20-40 years of age;
• Having a foetus in vertex presentation
• Having a foetus weighing 2.5-4 kg, as determined through ultrasonography
• Being primiparous
• Being between 37 and 42 gestational weeks with a single foetus
• Having planned to have a spontaneous vaginal delivery
• Not having used nonpharmacological pain control methods previously
• Having a cervical dilation less than 5 cm (Dabiri et al., 2014)
• Not having received analgesia or anaesthesia.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Were having a systemic disease during pregnancy (gestational diabetes, hypertension)
• Taking medication regularly
• Having a problem that prevented the woman from communicating
• Undergoing psychiatric treatment (pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy)
• Requiring an operative vaginal delivery (forceps, vacuum)
• Receiving pharmacological interventions for labour pain.