Ensayo clínico controlado y aleatorizado para determinar los efectos del uso de pelotas de parto durante el trabajo de parto

Abstract

Objective To determine the effects of using birth balls (BB) during the first and second stage of labour, perineal integrity, perception of pain intensity, and safety. Method Randomised controlled trial. Participants: 18 to 35 years, nulliparous, low-risk, at term. Intervention: Performing movements sitting on a BB during obstetric labour. Main outcomes: Duration of first and second labour stages; perineal integrity; pain perception during the postpartum period and pre-post intervention, type of delivery, cause of dystocia, Apgar, neonatal ICU admission. Analysis: Comparison of groups: Student- t for continuous variables and chi-squared test for categorical ones. Significance if P ≤.05. Results A total of 58 patients (34 experimental and 24 controls) were included. Times of first and second stage, and perineal integrity were similar between groups. At 4 cm. the experimental group referred less pain than the control group, 6.9 points vs 8.2 ( P=.039). Difference in the perception of pain in the immediate postpartum period was 1.48 points higher in the control group ( P=.003). The measurement of pain in the experimental group before the use of the BB was of 7.45 points, and after the intervention of 6.07 points ( P<.001). In There were no differences between groups as regards safety-related variables. Conclusion The use of a Birth Ball decreases obstetric labour pain perception and is safe.