Abstract
Background
Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) is an ancient medical system that provides suggestions to improve the health of mothers and children during pregnancy and labor. Persian physicians believed that these instructions made labor easier, safer, and less painful.
Methods
The present randomized clinical trial was conducted among women at 33–38 weeks of pregnancy in Tehran, Iran. TPM instructions consisted of diet, bathing, and application of oil from the 38th week of pregnancy to the onset of labor. The primary outcome was the duration of the active phase of labor.
Results
The mean duration of the active phase was 331.60 ± 151.48 min for the intervention group and 344.40 ± 271.46 min for the control groups, but it was not statistically significant. The active phase was significantly shorter in women who had better compliance (p=0.03). The need for oxytocin augmentation was 53.3% in the control group and 38.5% in the intervention group (p=0.17). The rate of perineal infection was 13% in the control group and 0% in the intervention group (p=0.11).
Conclusions
The active phase was not different in the intervention and control groups, but it was shorter in compliant women. It is possible that prolonged use of these recommendations in combination with a sitz baths and a larger sample size could result in more significant outcomes.
Acknowledgments
This paper was derived from PhD thesis and supported by Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. There was no conflict of interest to report.
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: None declared.
Employment or leadership: None declared.
Honorarium: None declared.
Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.
References
[1] Nystedt A, Hogberg U, Lundman B. The negative birth experience of prolonged labour: a case-referent study. J Clin Nurs. 2005;14:579–86.10.1111/j.1365-2702.2004.01105.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
[2] Waldenström U, Borg IM, Olsson B, Sköld M, Wall S. The childbirth experience: a study of 295 new mothers. Birth. 1996;23:144–53.10.1111/j.1523-536X.1996.tb00475.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
[3] Technical Working Group, World Health Organization. Care in normal birth: a practical guide. Birth. 1997;24:121–23.10.1111/j.1523-536X.1997.tb00352.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
[4] Kozhimannil KB, Johnson PJ, Attanasio LB, Gjerdingen DK, McGovern PM. Use of nonmedical methods of labor induction and pain management among U.S. women. Birth. 2013;40:227–36.10.1111/birt.12064Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
[5] Hall HG, McKenna LG, Griffiths DL. Complementary and alternative medicine for induction of labour. Women Birth. 2012;25:142–48.10.1016/j.wombi.2011.03.006Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[6] Smyth RM, Markham C, Dowswell T. Amniotomy for shortening spontaneous labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;6:CD006167.10.1002/14651858.CD006167.pub3Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[7] Mozurkewich EL, Chilimigras JL, Berman DR, Perni UC, Romero VC, King VJ, et al. Methods of induction of labour: a systematic review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2011;11:84.10.1186/1471-2393-11-84Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
[8] Ernst E. Prevalence of use of complementary/alternative medicine: a systematic review. Bull World Health Organ. 2000;78:258–66.Search in Google Scholar
[9] Mosavat S, Hashempur M, Dehghani S. Use of complementary and alternative medicine among pediatric patients with hepatic and gastrointestinal diseases. East Mediterr Health J. 2017:In press.10.26719/2018.24.10.1018Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[10] Adams J, Lui CW, Sibbritt D, Broom A, Wardle J, Homer C, et al. Women’s use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy: a critical review of the literature. Birth. 2009;36:237–45.10.1111/j.1523-536X.2009.00328.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
[11] Smith CA, Collins CT, Cyna AM, Crowther CA. Complementary and alternative therapies for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;4:CD003521.10.1002/14651858.CD003521Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[12] Tournaire M, Theau-Yonneau A. Complementary and alternative approaches to pain relief during labor. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2007;4:409–17.10.1093/ecam/nem012Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
[13] Smith CA, Levett KM, Collins CT, Crowther CA. Relaxation techniques for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;12:CD009514.10.1002/14651858.CD009514Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[14] Smith CA, Collins CT, Crowther CA, Levett KM. Acupuncture or acupressure for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;7:CD009232.10.1002/14651858.CD009232Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[15] Jabbari M, Daneshfard B, Emtiazy M, Khiveh A, Hashempur MH. Biological effects and clinical applications of Dwarf Elder (Sambucus ebulus L): a review. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2017;22:996–1001.10.1177/2156587217701322Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
[16] Arzani H. Mofarreh Al-Gholub. Tehran: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 2012.Search in Google Scholar
[17] Aghili Khorasani M. Kholasat Al-Hekmah. Qom: Esmaeilian, 2007.Search in Google Scholar
[18] Ahvazi A. Kamel Al-Senae. Qom: Jalaleddin Publications, 2009.Search in Google Scholar
[19] Arzani H. Tebbe Akbari. Tehran: The Institute for Medical History Islamic and Complementary Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, 2008.Search in Google Scholar
[20] Ibn-e-sina. Al-Qanoon fi Al-Tibb. Beirut, Lebanon: Al-aalami Beirut library Press, 2005.Search in Google Scholar
[21] Jorjani H. Zakhireh Kharazmshahi. Tehran: The academy of medical sciences publication, 2008.Search in Google Scholar
[22] Razi M. Al-Hawi fi Al-Tibb. Beirut: Dar ehya al-toras al-arabi, 2001.Search in Google Scholar
[23] Baladi A. Tadbir al-hubala wa al-atfal wa al-sibyan wa hifz sihhatihim. Baghdad: Dar al-rashid le-nashr, 1980.Search in Google Scholar
[24] Jorjani H. Khofi Alaei. Tehran: Ettelaat Publications, 1998.Search in Google Scholar
[25] Al-Akhvini Al-Bokhari A. Hedayat Al-Moteallemin fi Al-Tibb. Mashhad: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Publications, 1992.Search in Google Scholar
[26] Chashti M. Eksir Azam. Tehran: The Institute for Medical History Islamic and Complementary Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, 2004.Search in Google Scholar
[27] Razi M. Al Mansuri fi Al-Tibb. Kweit: Al-Manzamate al-arabiyate al-tarbiate al-seghafate va al-olum, 1987.Search in Google Scholar
[28] Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C, Weston J. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;2:Cd003766.10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub3Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[29] Jahdi F, Sheikhan F, Haghani H, Sharifi B, Ghaseminejad A, Khodarahmian M, et al. Yoga during pregnancy: the effects on labor pain and delivery outcomes (a randomized controlled trial). Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2017;27:1–4.10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.12.002Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[30] Da Silva FM, De Oliveira SM, Nobre MR. A randomised controlled trial evaluating the effect of immersion bath on labour pain. Midwifery. 2009;25:286–94.10.1016/j.midw.2007.04.006Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[31] Liu Y, Liu Y, Huang X, Du C, Peng J, Huang P, et al. A comparison of maternal and neonatal outcomes between water immersion during labor and conventional labor and delivery. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014;14:160.10.1186/1471-2393-14-160Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
[32] Vargens OM, Silva AC, Progianti JM. Non-invasive nursing technologies for pain relief during childbirth – the Brazilian nurse midwives’ view. Midwifery. 2013;29:e99–106.10.1016/j.midw.2012.11.011Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[33] Habanananda T. Non-pharmacological pain relief in labour. J Med Assoc Thai. 2004;87 Suppl 3:S194–202.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[34] Ozgoli G, Sedigh Mobarakabadi S, Heshmat R, Alavi Majd H, Sheikhan Z. 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. Complement Ther Med. 2016;29:175–80.10.1016/j.ctim.2016.10.009Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[35] Kashanian M, Shahali S. Effects of acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point (SP6) on the process of active phase of labor in nulliparas women. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2009;15:1–4.10.1080/14767050903277662Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[36] Kelly AJ, Kavanagh J, Thomas J. Castor oil, bath and/or enema for cervical priming and induction of labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;7:CD003099.10.1002/14651858.CD003099Search in Google Scholar PubMed
© 2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
