Effect of Acupressure on Labor Pain and Duration of Delivery among Laboring Women Attending Cairo University Hospital

Abstract

Background: Labor pain management continues to be a challenge for maternity nurses & physician caring for women during labor and birth process. Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the effect of acupressure at sanyinjiao point (SP6) on labor pains and the duration of delivery in primigravida women. Methods: This study was conducted at labor and delivery unit at Cairo University hospital. One hundred (100) women in labor were randomly selected (50 women for each group). Labor pain and progress were measured using a structured questionnaire, partograph and subjective labor pain scale (visual-analogue scale [VAS]): before intervention, immediately after the intervention, 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 120 minutes after intervention. Results: There were significant differences between groups in subjective labor pain scores at all time points following the intervention: immediately after the intervention (p< 0.004); 30 minutes after the intervention (p = 0.002); 60 minutes after the intervention (p = 0.02); and 120 minutes after the intervention (p = 0.03). The total labor duration (3 cm dilatation to delivery) was significantly shorter in the SP6 acupressure intervention group than in the control group (p = 0.03). Conclusion: The findings showed that SP6 acupressure was effective related to the reduction of labor pains, and duration of delivery. SP6 acupressure during labor could be applied as an effective non pharmacological management during labor.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of acupressure on relieving the labor pain

“…A total of 2346 participants were involved, ranging from 60 to 213 subjects per study. Twelve (54.5%) studies recruited only the primiparous women[ 27 ],[ 28 ],[ 29 ],[ 30 ],[ 31 ],[ 32 ],[ 33 ],[ 34 ],[ 35 ],[ 36 ],[ 37 ],[ 38 ] and 10 (45.5%) studies included both primiparous and multiparous women. [ 20 ],[ 23 ],[ 24 ],[ 25 ],[ 39 ],[ 40 ],[ 41 ],[ 42 ],[ 43 ],[ 44 ] In 20 (90.9%) trials, the intervention was administered during the active phase of labor.…”

“…In almost all the studies, the acupressure was performed at term, except for the study by Sebastian where no details were given. [ 32 ] Twelve studies were undertaken in Iran,[ 20 ],[ 23 ],[ 24 ],[ 27 ],[ 29 ],[ 30 ],[ 31 ],[ 33 ],[ 37 ],[ 40 ],[ 41 ],[ 44 ] four studies were performed in Turkey,[ 34 ],[ 35 ],[ 36 ],[ 42 ] two studies were conducted in India,[ 28 ],[ 32 ] and a study was found for Brazil,[ 43 ] Taiwan,[ 39 ] Egypt,[ 38 ] and Korea[ 25 ] [ Table 1 ].…”

“…In 17 studies, acupressure was applied at one acupoint: SP6;[ 24 ],[ 25 ],[ 28 ],[ 29 ],[ 30 ],[ 34 ],[ 35 ],[ 36 ],[ 38 ],[ 41 ],[ 43 ],[ 44 ] LI4;[ 20 ],[ 32 ],[ 40 ],[ 42 ] BL32,[ 23 ] and GB21. [ 27 ] Three studies used two acupoints: LI4 and BL67;[ 39 ] SP6 and L14,[ 33 ] and L14 and BL32[ 37 ] and one study had compared the effect of acupressure at two points of LI4 and SP6 on the labor pain.…”

“…[ 31 ],[ 35 ] Abd El Hamid, Kashanian, and Sebastian did not explain about measuring the amount of pressure on the points. [ 30 ],[ 32 ],[ 38 ]…”

“…Abd El Hamid explained that the acupressure was used by applying direct pressure using the index finger or thumb on both legs at a time for approximately 1 min during each uterine contraction for 30 min. [ 38 ] In the study by Yesilcicek, the acupressure was applied for 35 times in total on the SP6 point of both legs including 15 times when the cervical dilation was equal to 2–3 cm, 10 times when the cervical dilation was equal to 5–6 cm, and 10 times at 9–10 cm of cervical dilation; but the total time of intervention was not described. [ 34 ] Ozgoli explained that the acupressure was performed 18 times in total: 6 times in each dilation of 4–5, 6–7, and 8–10 cm, respectively.…”