Maria Amelia Miquelutti

Evaluation of a birth preparation program on lumbopelvic pain, urinary incontinence, anxiety and exercise: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAntenatal preparation programmes are recommended worldwide to promote a healthy pregnancy and greater autonomy during labor and delivery, prevent physical discomfort and high levels of anxiety. The objective of this study was to evaluate effectiveness and safety of a birth preparation programme to minimize lumbopelvic pain, urinary incontinence, anxiety, and increase physical activity during pregnancy as well as to compare its effects on perinatal outcomes comparing two groups of nulliparous women.MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted with 197 low risk nulliparous women aged 16 to 40 years, with gestational age ≥ 18 weeks. Participants were randomly allocated to participate in a birth preparation programme (BPP; n=97) or a control group (CG; n=100). The intervention was performed on the days of prenatal visits, and consisted of physical exercises, educational activities and instructions on exercises to be performed at home. The control group followed a routine of prenatal care. Primary outcomes were urinary incontinence, lumbopelvic pain, physical activity, and anxiety. Secondary outcomes were perinatal variables.ResultsThe risk of urinary incontinence in BPP participants was significantly lower at 30 weeks of pregnancy (BPP 42.7%, CG 62.2%; relative risk [RR] 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51-0.93) and at 36 weeks of pregnancy (BPP 41.2%, CG 68.4%; RR 0.60; 95%CI 0.45-0.81). Participation in the BPP encouraged women to exercise during pregnancy (p=0.009). No difference was found between the groups regarding to anxiety level, lumbopelvic pain, type or duration of delivery and weight or vitality of the newborn infant.ConclusionsThe BPP was effective in controlling urinary incontinence and to encourage the women to exercise during pregnancy with no adverse effects to pregnant women or the fetuses.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov, (NCT01155804)

Upright position during the first stage of labor: a randomised controlled trial

Background. Evaluation of the upright position during the first stage of labor on pain, patient satisfaction, obstetrical and perinatal outcomes in nullipara women. Methods. This prospective, randomised, controlled trial included a group of 54 women who were informed and encouraged to adopt the upright position, and a control group of 53 women who were not given this information. The difference between groups was evaluated using the χ2, Wilcoxon and Fishers Exact tests. Significance was defined as p<0.05. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in baseline characteristics, obstetrical and perinatal outcomes; however, there was a preference among women in both groups for the upright position. Conclusions. The upright position during the first stage of labor did not contribute towards a shorter duration of labor; however, it proved to be a safe and well‐accepted option for the women of this study.

Maternal position during the first stage of labor: a systematic review

BackgroundPolicy makers and health professionals are progressively using evidence-based rationale to guide their decisions. There has long been controversy regarding which maternal position is more appropriate during the first stage of labor. This problem has been examined often and repeatedly and the optimal recommendation remains unclear.MethodsThis is a systematic review of the effect of maternal position during the first stage of labor. The main question addressed here is: Does encouraging women to adopt an upright position or to ambulate during the first stage of labor reduce the duration of this stage? All randomized controlled trials carried out to assess this effect were taken into consideration in this review. The following electronic databases were accessed to identify studies: MEDLINE, Popline, the Scientific Electronic Library On-line and the Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information. Citation eligibility was independently assessed by two reviewers. The methodological quality of each trial was also evaluated independently by two reviewers and a trial under consideration was included only when consensus had been attained. Allocation concealment and screening for the occurrence of attrition, performance and detection biases were considered when studies were appraised. The decision whether to perform data pooling was based on the clinical similarity of studies.ResultsThe search strategy resulted in 260 citations, of which 18 were assessed in full-text. Nine eligible randomized controlled trials were included in the systematic review. Randomization methods were not fully described in eight studies. The allocation concealment was considered adequate in four studies and unclear in five. The investigators pooled the data from seven studies in which the length of the first stage of labor and results were in favor of the intervention, but the high level of heterogeneity (I2 = 88.4%) impaired the meaning of this finding. The intervention did not affect other outcomes studied (mode of delivery, use of analgesia, labor augmentation and condition of the child at birth).ConclusionAdoption of the upright position or ambulation during first stage of labor may be safe, but considering the available evidence and its consistency, it cannot be recommended as an effective intervention to reduce duration of the first stage of labor.

Antenatal education and the birthing experience of Brazilian women: a qualitative study

BackgroundInformation is still scarce on the birthing experience of women who participate in antenatal systematic education programs. The objective of the study was to report the experience of labor as described by nulliparous women who participated and who did not in a systematic Birth Preparation Program (BPP).MethodA qualitative study was conducted with eleven women who participated in a BPP and ten women attending routine prenatal care selected through purposeful sampling. The BPP consisted of systematized antenatal group meetings structured to provide physical exercise and information on pain prevention during pregnancy, the role of the pelvic floor muscles, the physiology of labor, and pain relief techniques. A single, semi-structured interview was conducted with each participant. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematic analyses performed. The relevant themes were organized in the following categories of analysis: control of labor, positions adopted during labor, and satisfaction with labor.ResultsWomen who participated in the systematic educational activities of the BPP reported they maintained self-control during labor and used breathing exercises, exercises on the ball, massage, baths and vertical positions to control pain. Also they reported satisfaction with their birthing experience. Women who did not participate in systematic educational activities referred to difficulties in maintaining control during labor and almost half of them reported lack of control. Also they were more likely to report dissatisfaction with labor.ConclusionsWomen who participated in the BPP reported self-control during labor and used non-pharmacological techniques to control pain and facilitate labor and expressed satisfaction with the birthing experience.

The vertical position during labor: pain and satisfaction

OBJETIVOS: avaliar a posicao vertical , adotada por mulheres nuliparas durante o trabalho de parto , em relacao a dor e satisfacao com a posicao. METODOS: abordagem analitica distinta, complementar e de eficacia de 107 nuliparas, secundaria aos dados de um ensaio controlado randomizado, que avaliou a posicao vertical em nuliparas durante a fase de dilatacao do trabalho de parto. A analise foi realizada pela comparacao das porcentagens medianas do tempo de permanencia na posicao vertical para cada categoria das variaveis estudadas. Para testar as diferencas entre as variaveis foram utilizados os testes de Kruskal-Wallis e de Mann-Whitney. A significância foi estabelecida em p 7 (p=0.02). As mulheres mais satisfeitas, aos 4 e 6 cm de dilatacao, permaneceram mais de 50 % do tempo na posicao vertical (p=0.0 2 e p=0.03, respectivamente). CONCLUSOES: a posicao vertical auxiliou no alivio da dor , melhorou o conforto e satisfacao das parturientes.

Developing strategies to be added to the protocol for antenatal care: An exercise and birth preparation program

OBJECTIVES: To describe the implementation process of a birth preparation program, the activities in the protocol for physical and birth preparation exercises, and the educational activities that have been evaluated regarding effectiveness and womens satisfaction. The birth preparation program described was developed with the following objectives: to prevent lumbopelvic pain, urinary incontinence and anxiety; to encourage the practice of physical activity during pregnancy and of positions and exercises for non-pharmacological pain relief during labor; and to discuss information that would help women to have autonomy during labor. METHODS: The program comprised the following activities: supervised physical exercise, relaxation exercises, and educational activities (explanations of lumbopelvic pain prevention, pelvic floor function, labor and delivery, and which non-pharmacological pain relief to use during labor) provided regularly after prenatal consultations. These activities were held monthly, starting when the women joined the program at 18–24 weeks of pregnancy and continuing until 30 weeks of pregnancy, fortnightly thereafter from 31 to 36 weeks of pregnancy, and then weekly from the 37th week until delivery. Information and printed materials regarding the physical exercises to be performed at home were provided. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01155804. RESULTS: The program was an innovative type of intervention that systematized birth preparation activities that were organized to encompass aspects related both to pregnancy and to labor and that included physical, educational and home-based activities. CONCLUSIONS: The detailed description of the protocol used may serve as a basis for further studies and also for the implementation of birth preparation programs within the healthcare system in different settings.

Kinesiologic tape for labor pain control: Randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background: Kinesiologic taping has been studied for managing diverse types of dysfunctions and pain, but not for managing pain during labor. Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of using kinesiologic tape (KT) during labor relative to pain, maternal satisfaction, and obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Method: The study was a single-blind randomized controlled trial composed of 60 pregnant women divided into two groups. In the kinesiologic tape group (KTG), the tape was applied to the region of spinal nerves T10–L1 and S2–S4; in the control group (CG), the tape was applied to the region of spinal nerves T1–T4. Study participants were low-risk pregnant women with spontaneous onset of labor and no previous Cesarean section. Outcomes evaluated were pain, duration of labor, type of delivery, uterotonic and anesthetic requirement, neonatal vitality, and satisfaction with delivery and tape use. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed, and risk ratios with a 95% CI were estimated. Results: After the first hour of tape use, a significant increase in pain was observed in the CG (p = 0.002). However, there were no differences between groups relative to the remaining outcomes assessed. In the KTG, 59% of participants reported satisfaction with tape use, whereas in the CG, 44% reported satisfaction with tape use. Conclusion: Despite its safety, the KT technique did not prove to effectively control labor pain.

Kinesio Taping for pain control during labor: Protocol of a randomized, controlled trial.

This study protocol will evaluate the effectiveness and safety during labor and delivery of the Kinesio Taping bandage for pain sensation, satisfaction of patients, and obstetric and neonatal outcomes. A randomized controlled trial with 60 participants divided into two groups will be conducted. The intervention group will receive bandage application on the vertebral regions corresponding to uterine dermatomes - from T10 to L1 and from S2 to S4. The control group will receive bandage application away from uterine dermatomes, from T1 to T4. The primary endpoint is pain during labor. Secondary endpoints are perinatal outcomes and patient satisfaction with the bandage and with her labor. Pain levels will be evaluated on an hourly basis during labor, and intention-to-treat analysis will be performed. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals will be calculated. Findings on effectiveness of pain control with no adverse effects to both the mother and neonate are the first step in evaluating the systematic use of Kinesio Taping during labor. Since self-control may affect birthing experience satisfaction, discovering new alternatives for pain control may allow for a better experience.

Manual lymphatic drainage and multilayer compression therapy for vulvar edema: a case series

Abstract Background and objective: Vulvar edema is a condition rarely reported and without defined treatment that may result in functional limitation. The aim of the report is to describe a case series of patients with disabling vulvar edema of different etiologies that were treated with manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and multilayer compression therapy (MCT). Case series: Four cases of vulvar edema are described: one in a woman with cervical cancer; one in a woman in the postoperative period of bilateral adrenalectomy for pheocromocytoma; and two in pregnant women with preeclampsia. All cases were treated with MLD and MCT during hospitalization. Outcomes: Total resolution of the edema occurred in 2 to 5 d of treatment. Conclusion: The present case series is the first to report the use of the MLD and MCT in the successful management of female genital edema. This report suggests that the vulvar edemas for these four patients treated with MLD and MCT seem to resolve faster than expected based on previously reported untreated edemas or edemas treated with different therapeutic approaches.