II. Management: Beneficial Measures
- Any Stage of Labor
- Continuous Labor Support (Doula)
- Decreases obstetric interventions
- Hypnosis in Labor
- Decreases pharmacologic Pain Management in Labor
- Continuous Labor Support (Doula)
-
First Stage of Labor
- Warm water baths
- Mixed results on efficacy in studies
- Safe option for limited period (<1-2 hours)
- Wait until active labor (cervical dilation >5 cm)
- Keep water Temperature less than Body Temperature
- Typically used in First Stage of Labor, but may be used in second stage
- Cluett (2018) Cochrane Database Syst Rev (5): CD000111 +PMID:19370552 [PubMed]
- Upright Positioning (head above hips)
-
Acupuncture
- Variable evidence in decreasing need for assisted Vaginal Delivery and Cesarean Section
- Intradermal sterile-water injections in sacral area
- Four 1 ml injections in various regions of Sacrum
- Causes local burning (counterirritation)
- Limited evidence from small studies
- Derry (2012) Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1):CD009107 +PMID:22258999 [PubMed]
- Warm water baths
III. Management: Unclear efficacy or disproven (small, inconclusive or negative studies)
- Lumbosacral Massage
- Warm showers
- Exercise Ball
- TENS Unit
- Aromatherapy (no proven effect)
- Audioanalgesia (no proven effect)