The effect of vaginal and perineal massage with duck oil on length of second stage of labor, episiotomy, and perineal laceration in nulliparous women: a randomized controlled trial

Adopting a safe method to accelerate labor can reduce maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. Prolonged labor, perineal rupture and episiotomy can be associated with short and long-term maternal and fetal complications. This study was performed aimed to examine the effect of vaginal and perineal massage with duck oil on the length of the second stage of labor, the frequency of episiotomy, and perineal laceration in nulliparous women.

This randomized controlled trial study was performed in 2020 on 129 nulliparous women with singleton pregnancy aged 18-35 years, gestational age 37-42 weeks, and cephalic presentation. The participants were divided into duck oil group (n=43), lubricant gel group (n=43), and control group (n=43). During the second stage of labor, a gentle massage was performed with the index and middle fingers impregnated with duck oil (for the oil group) or lubricant gel (for the gel group). The control group received massage without gel or oil. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 23) and Kruskal-Wallis, paired comparison and Chi-square tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The mean length of the second stage of labor in the duck oil group (35.77 ±21.47) was significantly lower than the control group (49.65±17.54) and the gel group (44.19±21.35) (P=0.01). There was no significant difference among the groups in terms of perineal rupture and the frequency of episiotomy (p >0.05).

Perineal and vaginal massage using duck oil in the second stage of labor can shorten the length of the second stage of labor, but had no effect on episiotomy and perineal rupture.