The Effects of Massage during Labor on Pain and Length of Delivery in Nulliparous Women

Length of delivery and labor pain، are the factors that can affect on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Doctors and researchers believe that safe and secure methods which have no complications for mother and fetus should be used to decrease the duration and severity of labor pain. Since، no fetal and maternal complication was observed in usage of non-pharmacological methods. This study was done aimed to evaluate the effects of massage on pain and length of delivery in nulliparous women. This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 100 nulliparous women who were admitted in social security hospital of Ardabil، Iran for delivery in 2013. 50 women were located in case group (massage was done from the end of sacrum vertebral to Lumbar vertebral) and 50 women in control group (without massage). The massage group received massage during contractions and in cervical dilatation of 4، 6، 8 and 10 cm for 30 minutes. Then، pain intensity at the end of the second stage، duration of active phase and the second stage of labor were recorded in two groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 12، chi-square، t-test and Mann-Whitney tests. P value less than 0. 05 was considered significant. Massage reduced the intensity of labor pain (p<0. 001) and length of the first stage of labor (p<0. 001). Massage during labor reduces length of delivery and intensity of labor pain، and could be use as a safe and easy method without any side effects.