Abstract
Introduction: Reduction of pain during labor is addressed via general approaches, pharmacologic and non-pharmacological methods. Birth ball promotes optimal positioning of foetal presenting part to maternal pelvis and pain sensation reduction during labor. Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of birth ball exercises on reducing labour pain and duration and improving labour outcome among pregnant mothers. Methods: Randomized control trial was conducted in Obstetric Unit in Castle Street Hospital for Women. SNSOE technique was applied for allocation concealment. Interviewer administered data collection sheet, birth ball and an analogue visual pain scale were used as study instruments. Selected perinatal outcomes, duration and labour pain were compared between two study groups. Study was ethically cleared by the Ethic Review Committee of Faculty of Medicine, Colombo. Trial was registered in Sri Lanka Clinical Trial Registry. Results: Mean age was 29.33 years (SD=5.27 years). Mean gestational age of all the study participants was 279.47 days. (SD=5.63 days). Majority of the study participants had delivered their babies via NVD (N=66: 78.65) and 16.7% (N=16), of them were subjected to EM/LSCS. Mean BMI value was 28.13 kg/m2 (SD=1.72). Height and weight of the study participants showed a negative correlation with the duration of labour. Duration of labour showed a positive correlation with the BMI of the mothers. Significant reduction of mean labour pains and labour duration was noted in the group which experienced birth ball exercises when compared to the control group. Conclusions and recommendations: Duration of labour can be significantly reduced by applying the birth ball exercises procedure. It is beneficial to use the birth ball exercise procedure as a method of reducing labour pains. Expected amount of adverse perinatal outcomes was less among the mothers who used birth ball exercise. Birth ball exercise procedure can be identified as a practical strategy to increase intrapartum obstetric outcomes.
Highlights
Reduction of pain during labor is addressed via general approaches, pharmacologic and non-pharmacological methods
There is a wide variety of non-pharmacological pain relief techniques, that are expected to address the physical sensation of labour pain, and attempt to reduce pain by enhancing the psychological or emotional components of care[9]
Five professional groups were seen among the study participants (Table 1)
Summary
Reduction of pain during labor is addressed via general approaches, pharmacologic and non-pharmacological methods. Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of birth ball exercises on reducing labour pain and duration and improving labour outcome among pregnant mothers. Duration and labour pain were compared between two study groups. Mean gestational age of all the study participants was 279.47 days. Significant reduction of mean labour pains and labour duration was noted in the group which experienced birth ball exercises when compared to the control group. Conclusions and recommendations: Duration of labour can be significantly reduced by applying the birth ball exercises procedure. It is beneficial to use the birth ball exercise procedure as a method of reducing labour pains. There is a wide variety of non-pharmacological pain relief techniques, that are expected to address the physical sensation of labour pain, and attempt to reduce pain by enhancing the psychological or emotional components of care[9]. The pain relief techniques are relaxation, breathing techniques, positioning or movement, massage, hydrotherapy, water immersion, hot or cold therapy, music, guided imagery, acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, hypnosis, and use of a birth ball[9,10]
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