Effects of LI4 Acupressure on Length of Delivery Time, Mothers’ Physiologic Responses and Newborn’s Apgar Scores
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22100/jkh.v5i1.138Keywords:
Acupressure, Labor stage, Physiologic responses, ApgarAbstract
Introduction: Prolonged labor has been associated with cesarean delivery and low Ph cord blood. Furthermore, hemorrhage and infection, which are strongly associated with long labor, are leading causes of maternal death. Due to the importance of duration of labor, this study investigates the effects of Hego (LI4) acupressure on length of delivery time, mothers’ physiological responses i.e., respiration and pulse rates of mothers, and Apgar scores of newborns.
Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 100 pregnant women, who were at the beginning of active phase of labor (dilatation 5-3)and had referred to Fatemiye educational and research clinic in Shahroud, were randomly assigned to either the LI4 acupressure (n=50) or LI4 touch control (n=50) group. The experimental group received LI4 acupressure at the onset of the active phase for duration of each uterine contraction over a period of 20 minutes but the control group received only LI4 touch. Length of delivery time was calculated in two stages: from 3-5 cm cervical dilation to full cervical dilation and full cervical dilation to the delivery. Pulse and respiration rates were measured before intervention, immediately after intervention, 20, 60 minutes after intervention and then each hour until delivery. One-minute and five-minute Apgar scores were also registered.
Results: There were significant differences between the groups in length of delivery time. The total labor (3-5 dilation to delivery) was significantly shorter in the LI4 acupressure intervention group (P=0.038). Maternal pulse and respiration rates weren’t significantly different between the groups (P=0.711, P=0.108). There were no significant differences between two groups for neonatal Apgar scores at one and five minutes. (P= 0.2, P= 0.3).
Conclusion: These finding showed that LI4 acupressure was effective for shortening the length of delivery time and had no side effects on mothers’ pulse and respiration rate or no newborns’ Apgar scores. Therefore, this safe, simple and modern technique which requires no cost and equipment can be used in maternity hospitals.
References
Fraser WD, Cayer M, Soeder BM, Turcot L, Marcoux S. Risk factors for difficult delivery in nulliparas with epidural analgesia in second stage of labor. Obstet Gynecol 2002;99(3):409-418.
Kolas T, Hoffos D, Daltveit AK, Nilsen ST, Henriksen T, Hager R, et al. Indications for cesarean deliveries in Norway. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2003;188(4):864-870.
Nystedt A, Högberg U, Lundman B. The negative birth experience of prolonged labour: a case-referent study. Jclin Nurs 2005;14 (5):579-86.
Row-Murray HJ, Fisher JR. Operative intervention in delivery is associated with compromised early mother-infant interaction. BJOG 2001;108(10):1068-1075.
Johanson R, Wilkinson P, Bastible A, Ryan S, Murphy H, O'Brien S. Health after childbirth: a comparison of normal and assisted vaginal delivery. Midwifery 1993;9(3):161-168.
Gottvall K, Waldenstrom U. Does a traumatic birth experience have an impact on future reproduction?. BJOG 2002;109(3):254-260.
Altman MR, Lydon-Rochelle MT. Prolonged second stage of labor and risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes: a systematic review. Birth 2006;33(4):315-22.
Safarzadeh A. Effect of massage on labor pain in nulliparous women. Shahre-kord University of Medical Sciences Journal 2006;9(4):20-25. [Persian].
Nazari T. Survey on the effect of amniotomy on duration of active phases in nulliparous women. Asrar Journal of Sabzevar Medical Sciences 2002;7(2).[Persian].
Leeman L, Fontaine P, King V, Ratcliffe S. The nature and management of labor pain: Part I. Nanpharmacologic pain relief. Am Fam Physician 2003;68(6):1109-12.
Tiran D, Mack S. Complementary therapies for pregnancy and childbirth. 2th ed. Wb Saunders Company.2000.p. 103.
Cook AS, Wilcox G. Pressuring pain: alternative therapies for labor pain management. AWHONN Lifelines 1997;1(2):36-41.
BishcKo J. Acupuncture Education Foundation .Translated to Persian by: Esmaeli N. Sari: Nadali pub;2007.p.26.[Persian].
NIH Consensus conference: Acupuncture. JAMA 1998;280(17): 1518-1524.
Waters BL, Raisler J .Ice massage for the reduction of labor pain. J Midwifery Womens Health 2003;48(5):317-21.
Hsieh LL, Kuo Ch, Yen MF, Chen TH. A randomized controlled clinical trial for low back pain treated by acupressure and physical therapy. Prev Med 2004;39(1):168-76.
Lee MK, Chang SB, Kang DH. Effects od SP6 acupressure on labor pain and length of delivery time in women during labor. J Altern Complement Med 2004;10(6):959-65.
Chung UL, Hung LC, Kou SC, Huang CL. Effects of LI4 and BL67 acupressure on labour pain and uterine contractions in the first stage of labour. J Nurse Res 2003;11(4):251-60.
Kim YR, Chang SB, Lee MK, Woong Jaeg Mean. Effects on Labor Pain and Length of Delivery Time for Primipara Women treated by San-Yin-Jian (SP-6) Acupressure and Hob-Gog (LI-4) Acupressure. Korean J Women Health Nurse 2002;8(2):244-256.
Ziesler H, Tempfer C, Mayerhofer K, Barrada M, Husslein P. Influence of acupuncture on duration of labor. Gynecol Obstet Invest 1998;46:22-25.
Ramnero A, Hanson U, Kihlgren M. Acupuncture treatment during labor-a randomized controlled trial. BJOG 2002;109(6):637-44.
Tsuei JJ, Lai Y, Sharma SD. The influence of acupuncture stimulation during pregnancy: the induction and inhibition of labor. Obstet Gynecol 1977;50(4):479-88.
Heydari P,Mozhdeh F,Mazlom Seyed,Tanbakoui K, Joudaki K. Effect Of Acupressure On Labor Pain Intensity. Journa Hakim Research 2008 ; 11(2):39-46.[Persian].
Chao AS, Chao A, Wang T, Chang Y, Peng H, Chang S, et al. Pain relief by applying transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on acupuncture points during the first stage of labor: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Pain 2007;127(3):214-220.
Hantoushzadeh S, Alhusseini N, Lebaschi AH. The effects of acupuncture during labor on nulliparous women: a randomized controlled trial. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynecol 2007;47(1):26-30.
Lee MK. Effects of san-Yin-Jiao (SP6) Acupressure on anxiety, pulse and neonatal status in women during labor. Korean J Women Health Nurse 2003;9(2):138-151.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
