Perinatal Research Highlights

Use this page to expand your awareness of both the newest and most established research relevant to perinatal massage therapy. We periodically feature at least one abstract from our research bibliography. Visit our on-line product catalog to purchase the entire research bibliography collection.

Effects of massage on pain and anxiety during labour: a randomized controlled trial in Taiwan

Chang, M, Wang,S, and Chen, C.
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 38 (1), p. 68-73, 2002.

Background. Labour pain is a challenging issue for nurses designing intervention protocols. Massage is an ancient technique that has been widely employed during labour, however, relatively little study has been undertaken examining the effects of massage on women in labour.

Methods. A randomized controlled study was conducted between September 1999 and January 2000. Sixty primiparous women expected to have a normal childbirth at a regional hospital in southern Taiwan were randomly assigned to either the experimental (n.30) or the control (n.30) group. The experimental group received massage intervention whereas the control group did not. The nurse-rated present behavioural intensity (PBI) was used as a measure of labour pain. Anxiety was measured with the visual analogue scale for anxiety (VASA). The intensity of pain and anxiety between the two groups was compared in the latent phase (cervix dilated 3–4 cm), active phase (5–7 cm) and transitional phase (8–10 cm).

Results. In both groups, there was a relatively steady increase in pain intensity and anxiety level as labour progressed. A t-test demonstrated that the experimental group had significantly lower pain reactions in the latent, active and transitional phases. Anxiety levels were only significantly different between the two groups in the latent phase. Twenty-six of the 30 (87%) experimental group subjects reported that massage was helpful, providing pain relief and psychological support during labour.

Conclusions. Findings suggest that massage is a cost-effective nursing intervention that can decrease pain and anxiety during labour, and partners’ participation in massage can positively influence the quality of women’s birth experiences.

Massage therapy effects on depressed pregnant women.

Field, T, Hernandez-Reif, M, et al.
Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, 25:115–122 June 2004

Eighty-four depressed pregnant women were recruited during the second trimester of pregnancy and randomly assigned to a massage therapy group, a progressive muscle relaxation group or a control group that received standard prenatal care alone. These groups were compared to each other and to a non-depressed group at the end of pregnancy. The massage therapy group reported reduced anxiety. improved mood, better sleep, and less back pain by the last day of the study. In addition, urinary stress hormone levels (norepinephrine) decreased for the massage therapy group and the women had fewer complications during labor and their infants had fewer postnatal complications (e.g., less prematurity).

Touch in labor: A comparison of cultures and eras

Hedstrom, L.W., N. Newton.
Birth, 9/1986, 13/3, pp. 181-86

Discusses the purposes of touch in past and current peasant cultures as applied to pregnancy. These include: to lend support to the woman's position, to stimulate contractions and to relieve pain. Argues that large areas of the woman's body are supported or given different types of massage to accomplish this. In the US, by contrast, labor is stimulated and pain is relieved by pharmaceuticals. Touch is applied to much smaller areas of the woman's body and is usually limited to hand holding. The purpose of touch in labor in the US is more to communicate caring and reassurance.

Labor Pain

Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Taylor, S., Quintino, O., & Burman, I.
Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology (1997) 18:286-29

Labor pain is reduced by massage therapy.

Twenty-eight women were recruited from prenatal classes and randomly assigned to receive massage in addition to coaching in breathing from their partners during labor, or to receive coaching in breathing alone (a technique learned during prenatal classes).

The massaged mothers reported a decrease in depressed mood, anxiety and more positive affect following the first massage during labor. In addition, the massaged mothers had significantly shorter labor, a shorter hospital stay and less postpartum depression.

Update on NonpharmacologicApproaches to Relieve Labor Pain and Prevent Suffering

Simkin, P and Bolding, A.
Journal of Midwifery and Womens Health ;49:489–504, 2004.

The control of labor pain and prevention of suffering are major concerns of clinicians and their clients. Nonpharmacologic approaches toward these goals are consistent with midwifery management and the choices of many women. We undertook a literature search of scientific articles cataloged in CINAHL, PUBMED, the Cochrane Library, and AMED databases relating to the effectiveness of 13 nonpharmacologic methods used to relieve pain and reduce suffering in labor. Suffering, which is different from pain, is not an outcome that is usually measured after childbirth. We assumed that suffering is unlikely if indicators of satisfaction were positive after childbirth. Adequate evidence of benefit in reducing pain exists for continuous labor support, baths, intradermal water blocks, and maternal movement and positioning. Acupuncture, massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and hypnosis are promising, but they require further study. The effectiveness of childbirth education, relaxation and breathing, heat and cold, acupressure, hypnosis, aromatherapy, music, and audio analgesia are either inadequately studied or findings are too variable to draw conclusions on effectiveness. All the methods studied had evidence of widespread satisfaction among a majority of users.