Effectiveness of Back Massage vs Breathing Exercises on Labour Pain and Anxiety among Primigravida Mothers During First Stage of Labour in Pravara Rural Hospital, Loni (Bk)

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy is a special event. The labour & birth process is an exciting, anxiety provoking situation for the woman & her family. Each woman comes into labour room with her own set of expectation, fear, preparation, pain threshold, personality & behavioural make up & ways of experiencing what is happening to her, which has to be managed effectively. The pain involved in labour & birth can sometimes dominate a pregnant woman or a couple throughout child, particularly as the baby's due date approaches. The time of labour & birth, though short, in comparison with the length of pregnancy, is the most dramatic & significant period of pregnancy for the expectant woman.Method: Quasi experimental study, pre and post-test design with quantitative approach was used. Setting of the study was in Pravara rural hospital, Loni (Bk).Those primigravida women who are above 19 years of age and fulfilling the inclusion criteria and were available during study period were the samples for this present study. Sample size was total 60 (30 of them to study group I and 30 of them to study group II).Purposive sampling technique was used for the study. Structured questionnaire was used to assess demographic and obstetrical variables, labor pain of mother was assessed by visual analogue scale and anxiety of the mother was assessed by the state -Trait Anxiety inventory scale.Results: Analysis showed that comparison of mean and SD of pretest level and posttest level of labour pain in study group I & II was very highly significant at P=0.001 level and comparison of mean and SD of pretest level and posttest level of anxietyin study group I & II was very highly significant at P=0.001 level. The result depicted that, there was statistical significance found in labour pain of primigravida mothers in study group I & II at P=0.01 level. Regarding anxiety of primigravida mothers in study group I & II, there was significant difference found at P=0.01 level. Conclusion:Labour is very sensitive phase of a women, fear and anxiety may be high in primi mothers during process of labour. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological method of pain relief are complementary procedures which help a woman suffer less anxiety and pain during childbirth. Thus this study conclude that back massage and breathing exercises provided more persistent pain relief and reduce anxiety. It is effective,