Alternative methods for pain relief in normal childbirth: systematic review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v10i1.11725

Keywords:

Natural childbirth; Pain; Complementary therapies.

Abstract

Alternative methods for pain relief aim to make childbirth as natural as possible, reducing unnecessary and harmful interventions, according to the World Health Organization, and rescuing the parturient's autonomy. The aim of this study was to investigate alternative therapies for the relief of pain from normal delivery in the literature available in different parts of the world. A systematic literature review was carried out in PubMed®, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS) and ScienceDirect databases searching for studies published between 2002 and 2019. The research took place between February and April 2020, according to the descriptors “parturition”, “complementary therapies”, “pain” and “normal delivery”. PRISMA recommendations were used and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020186056). We analyzed 6,758 articles of clinical trial model. A total of 16 articles for qualitative synthesis involving five different countries were included. Most of the studies had primiparous participants, and by inclusion criteria, healthy women, and with usual risk of prenatal care. The 16 studies involved ten different non-pharmacological techniques, with acupuncture and bathing with hot therapy as the most used. Most of the alternative therapies responded satisfactorily in aid of labor pain, besides not being harmful to newborns. The alternative methods in childbirth are comprehensive and collaborative throughout the gestational and parturition process, being statically significant with pain, and providing a range of models that can be planned and employed by maternity hospitals in an easy and economical way.

References

Almeida, J. M. de, Acosta, L. G., & Pinhal, M. G. (2015). The knowledge of puerperae about non-pharmacological methods for pain relief during childbirth. REME: Revista Mineira de Enfermagem, 19(3), 711–717.

Asadi, N., Maharlouei, N., Khalili, A., Darabi, Y., Davoodi, S., Raeisi Shahraki, H., Hadianfard, M., Jokar, A., Vafaei, H., & Kasraeian, M. (2015). Effects of LI-4 and SP-6 acupuncture on labor pain, cortisol level and duration of labor. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, 8(5), 249–254.

Borges, M. R., Madeira, L. M., & Azevedo, V. M. G. de O. (2011). As práticas integrativas e complementares na atenção à saúde da mulher: uma estratégia de humanização da assistência no Hospital Sofia Feldman. Revista Mineira de Enfermagem, 15(1), 105–113.

Borup, L., Wurlitzer, W., Hedegaard, M., Kesmodel, U. S., Hvidman, L., & Fleckenstein, J. (2011). Acupuncture as pain relief during delivery: a randomized controlled trial. Deutsche Zeitschrift Für Akupunktur, 54(3), 33–34.

Bowser, D., & Hill, K. (2010). Exploring evidence for disrespect and abuse in facility-based childbirth. United States: United States Agency for International Development. https://www.ghdonline.org/uploads/Respectful_Care_at_Birth_9-20-101_Final1.pdf

Cavalcanti, A. C. V., Henrique, A. J., Brasil, C. M., Gabrielloni, M. C., & Barbieri, M. (2019). Terapias complementares no trabalho de parto: ensaio clínico randomizado. Revista Gaúcha de Enfermagem, 40, e20190026.

Chang, M. Y., Wang, S. Y., & Chen, C. H. (2002). Effects of massage on pain and anxiety during labour: a randomized controlled trial in Taiwan. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 38(1), 68–73.

Cherobin, F., Oliveira, A. R., & Brisola, A. M. (2016). Acupuntura e auriculoterapia como métodos não farmacológicos de alívio da dor no processo de parturição. Cogitare Enfermagem, 21(3), 1–8.

Cicek, S., & Basar, F. (2017). The effects of breathing techniques training on the duration of labor and anxiety levels of pregnant women. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 29, 213–219.

Dehcheshmeh, F. S., & Rafiei, H. (2015). Complementary and alternative therapies to relieve labor pain: A comparative study between music therapy and Hoku point ice massage. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 21(4), 229–232.

Duarte, M. R., Alves, V. H., Rodrigues, D. P., De Souza, K. V., Pereira, A. V., & Pimentel, M. M. (2019). Tecnologias do cuidado na enfermagem obstétrica: contribuição para o parto e nascimento. Cogitare Enfermagem, 24, e54164.

Fernandes, L. M., Lansky, S., Oliveira, B. J., Friche, A. A., Bozlak, C. T., & Shaw, B. A. (2020). Changes in perceived knowledge about childbirth among pregnant women participating in the Senses of Birth intervention in Brazil: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20, 1-16.

Hamdamian, S., Nazarpour, S., Simbar, M., Hajian, S., Mojab, F., & Talebi, A. (2018). Effects of aromatherapy with Rosa damascena on nulliparous women’s pain and anxiety of labor during first stage of labor. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 16(2), 120–125.

Henrique, A. J., Gabrielloni, M. C., Cavalcanti, A. C. V., Melo, P. de S., & Barbieri, M. (2016). Hidroterapia e bola suíça no trabalho de parto: ensaio clínico randomizado. Acta Paulista de Enfermagem, 29(6), 686–692.

Somer, S. J. H., Sinkey, R. G., & Bryant, A. S. (2017, August). Epidemiology of racial/ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity and mortality. In Seminars in perinatology (Vol. 41, No. 5, pp. 258-265). WB Saunders.

Jahdi, F., Sheikhan, F., Haghani, H., Sharifi, B., Ghaseminejad, A., Khodarahmian, M., & Rouhana, N. (2017). Yoga during pregnancy: The effects on labor pain and delivery outcomes (A randomized controlled trial). Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 27, 1–4.

Lee, S., Liu, C., Lu, Y., & Gau, M. (2013). Efficacy of warm showers on labor pain and birth experiences during the first labor stage. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 42(1), 19–28.

Lingling, W., Xiaohui, L., Yuzhu, Y., Ke, S., Ling, W., Wei, Y., Shangrong, L., & Hongying, H. (2017). Effectiveness of acupuncture versus spinal-epidural anesthesia on labor pain: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37(5), 629–635.

Liu, Y. H., Chang, M. Y., & Chen, C. H. (2010). Effects of music therapy on labour pain and anxiety in Taiwanese first-time mothers. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 19(7–8), 1065–1072.

Mahmoudikohani, F., Torkzahrani, S., Saatchi, K., & Nasiri, M. (2019). Effects of acupressure on the childbirth satisfaction and experience of birth: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 23(4), 728–732.

Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. G., The PRISMA Group. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, 6(7):e1000097.

Monguilhott, J. J. C., Brüggemann, O. M., Freitas, P. F., & D’Orsi, E. (2018). Nascer no Brasil: a presença do acompanhante favorece a aplicação das boas práticas na atenção ao parto na região Sul. Revista de Saúde Pública, 52, 1.

Nogueira, N. S. e É., Aguiar, M. G. G., & Sousa, B. S. M. (2015). Métodos não farmacológicos no alívio da dor: equipe de enfermagem na assistência a parturiente em trabalho de parto e parto. Enfermagem Revista, 18, 42–56.

Organização Mundial da Saúde. (2014). Prevenção e eliminação de abusos, desrespeito e maus-tratos durante o parto em instituições de saúde. Brasília, DF: Organização Mundial Da Saúde. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/134588/WHO_RHR_14.23_por.pdf; jsessionid=6026E9940C30FA5241D90CFE205EB73E?sequence=3

Ozgoli, G., Sedigh Mobarakabadi, S., Heshmat, R., Alavi Majd, H., & Sheikhan, Z. (2016). Effect of LI4 and BL32 acupressure on labor pain and delivery outcome in the first stage of labor in primiparous women: A randomized controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 29, 175–180.

Pimentel, T. A., & Oliveira-Filho, E. C. (2016). Fatores que influenciam na escolha da via de parto cirúrgica: uma revisão bibliográfica. Universitas: Ciências Da Saúde, 14(2).

Sanfelice, C. F. de O., Abbud, F. D. S. F., Pregnolatto, O. S., Da Silva, M. G., & Shimo, A. K. K. (2014). From institutionalized birth to home birth. Revista da Rede de Enfermagem do Nordeste, 15(2), 362–370.

Santana, L. S., Gallo, R. B. S., Ferreira, C. H. J., Duarte, G., Quintana, S. M., & Marcolin, A. C. (2016). Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) reduces pain and postpones the need for pharmacological analgesia during labour: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy, 62(1), 29–34.

Shamseer, L., Moher, D., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A., Petticrew, M., Shekelle, P., & Stewart, L. A. (2015). Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015: elaboration and explanation. Bristish Medical Journal, 349(jan2 1), g7647–g7647.

Taavoni, S., Sheikhan, F., Abdolahian, S., & Ghavi, F. (2016). Birth ball or heat therapy? A randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of birth ball usage with sacrum-perineal heat therapy in labor pain management. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 24, 99–102.

Ugwu, E. O., Iferikigwe, E. S., Obi, S. N., Eleje, G. U., & Ozumba, B. C. (2018). Effectiveness of antenatal perineal massage in reducing perineal trauma and post-partum morbidities: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 44(7), 1252–1258.

United Nations. (1948). United Nations Human Rights Declaration. United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/

Vidal, C. R. P. M., Medeiros, M. Q., Andrade, J. A. F. M., Júnior, E. A., & Carvalho, F. H. C. (2020). Influence of evening/night-time birth on maternal/perinatal outcomes in a low-risk population. Journal of the Turkish German Gynecological Association, 21(4), 221.

Vieira, G. O., Fernandes, L. G., de Oliveira, N. F., Silva, L. R., & de Oliveira Vieira, T. (2015). Factors associated with cesarean delivery in public and private hospitals in a city of northeastern Brazil: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 15(1), 132.

World Health Organization. (2018). Intrapartum care for a positive childbirth experience. Geneve: World Health Organization. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/260178/1/9789241550215-eng.pdf?ua=1%0Ahttp://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/intrapartum-care-guidelines/en/

World Health Organization. Statement on Caesarean Section Rates. Geneva: WHO; 2015. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/161442 /WHO_RHR_15.02_ita.pdf

Yazdkhasti, M., & Pirak, A. (2016). The effect of aromatherapy with lavender essence on severity of labor pain and duration of labor in primiparous women. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 25, 81–86.

Zeng, Y., Zhou, Y., Chen, P., Luo, T., & Huang, M. (2014). Use of complementary and alternative medicine across the childbirth spectrum in China. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 22(6), 1047–1052.

Published

24/01/2021

How to Cite

ALMEIDA, C. F. S. de .; GRAEPP-FONTOURA, I.; TAVARES, H. S. de A. .; LIMA, L. N. F. .; SANTOS, F. S. .; SANTOS NETO, M.; FONSECA, S. C. T. .; RIBEIRO, R. de S. .; ARAÚJO, S. M. N. de .; FEITOSA, M. de O. .; SANTOS, R. M. de M. S. .; LIMA, C. C. D. .; ALMEIDA, V. F. M. de .; HOLANDA, N. B. de A. .; RIBEIRO, S. B. .; SILVA, L. P. da .; FONTOURA, V. M. . Alternative methods for pain relief in normal childbirth: systematic review. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 10, n. 1, p. e45910111725, 2021. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v10i1.11725. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/11725. Acesso em: 12 nov. 2024.

Issue

Section

Health Sciences