Tahereh Keshavarz; Marzieh Akbarzadeh; Zeinab Moshfeghy; Roghaie Khoshkholgh; Maram Kasraeian; Najaf Zare
Abstract
Background: Non-stress test is the most widely used test to assess fetal status. The presence of beat-to-beat variability is reassuring while its absence is not reassuring.
Methods: In this single-blind clinical trial, 213 pregnant women with gestational age of 37 - 41 weeks were randomly allocated ...
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Background: Non-stress test is the most widely used test to assess fetal status. The presence of beat-to-beat variability is reassuring while its absence is not reassuring.
Methods: In this single-blind clinical trial, 213 pregnant women with gestational age of 37 - 41 weeks were randomly allocated into three groups (auditory intervention for mother, auditory intervention for fetus, and control), each containing 71 subjects. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey HSD test and Kruskal-Wallis test. In addition, paired t-test was used to compare each group before and after the intervention.
Results: The results showed a significant difference among the three groups regarding beat-to-beat variability of fetal heart rate in the second 10 minutes of the test (P = 0.006). Besides, the results of Tukey HSD test indicated that this difference was significant between the control group and auditory intervention for mother group (P = 0.004). Moreover, the results of t-test showed a significant difference in beat-to-beat variability of fetal heart rate between the first and the second 10 minutes of the test in both groups of auditory intervention for mother (P < 0.001) and for fetus (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Since beat-to-beat variability of the fetal heart rate is indicator of fetal health, music intervention can be used to increase the number of accelerations and reduce false positive results in NST.
Marzieh Akbarzadeh; Zahra Moradi; Azam Jowkar; Najaf Zare; Mohammad Javad Hadianfard
Abstract
Background: Pain, a common phenomenon, is an inevitable part of childbirth. A number of pressure points exist that reduce labor pain in the body.
Objectives: This study aims to compare mono- and bi-stage acupressure at the GB-21 point on the severity of labor pain and the delivery outcome.
Patients ...
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Background: Pain, a common phenomenon, is an inevitable part of childbirth. A number of pressure points exist that reduce labor pain in the body.
Objectives: This study aims to compare mono- and bi-stage acupressure at the GB-21 point on the severity of labor pain and the delivery outcome.
Patients and Methods: This quasi-experimental uni-blind study enrolled 150 full-term pregnant women who were experiencing labor pains. Patients were randomly divided into three groups: a) mono-stage acupressure applied at 3-4 cm cervical dilatation (n = 50), b) bi-stage acupressure applied at 3-4 cm and 7-8 cm dilatation (n = 50), and c) control group (n = 50). Acupressure intervention at the GB-21 point was carried out for a period of 20 minutes. The pain severity was evaluated before, immediately, and at 30 and 60 minutes after intervention by a visual analog scale.
Results: The pain severity after intervention in the 3-4 cm dilatation mono-stage intervention group was less than the control group (P < 0.001). However there was no difference between the mono- and bi-stage intervention groups (P > 0.05). In the 7-8 cm dilatation group, the pain severity was reduced only in the bi-stage in contrast with mono stage intervention groups (P < 0.001). The duration of the second stage and rate of cesarean section was less in the intervention groups (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Exerting pressure at the GB-21 point is effective in reducing pain, duration of labor and the rate of cesarean sections. Pain can be reduced in the mother by increasing the Frequency interference of intervention (One vs. two stages). Because this method is both inexpensive and reliable, we recommend its use to the medical team.
Marzieh Akbarzade; Bahare Rafiee; Nasrin Asadi; Najaf Zare
Abstract
Background: An increase in maternal body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy can cause overweight during pregnancy, and negatively affect both the mother and the fetus. Non-stress test (NST) is the most common way to evaluate the fetus during pregnancy.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation ...
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Background: An increase in maternal body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy can cause overweight during pregnancy, and negatively affect both the mother and the fetus. Non-stress test (NST) is the most common way to evaluate the fetus during pregnancy.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between maternal BMI and NST parameters as well as the pregnancy outcomes in nulliparous women.
Materials and Methods: This case-control study, comprised 67 nulliparous women with the gestational age of 24-28 weeks, selected by simple random sampling, who were admitted to Shooshtari and Hafez hospitals from 2011 to 2012. The case group included 35 pregnant women with BMI greater than 26. The control group consisted of 32 pregnant women with BMI lower than 26. NST was applied to groups and evaluated reactive and non-reactive parameters, basal fetal heart rate, and number of accelerations. Chi-square test was used to examine the reactive and non-reactive parameters and type of delivery. Other variables were statistically analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Results: Our results indicated that the frequency of NST reactive and non-reactive parameters was 41%, 59% in the case group, respectively and 55%, 45% in the control group, respectively. Besides, a significant difference was found between the case and the control group regarding reactive parameters (P = 0.02). However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups concerning the mean of basal fetal heart rate ( P= 0.3). However, the number of accelerations in the case group was significantly lower than that of the control group ( P= 0.001). Significant increases were found in the case group regarding the mean of post-delivery weight ( P= 0.02), BMI after delivery ( P= 0.005), neonatal birth weight ( P= 0.001), gestational age ( P= 0.001), and caesarian section (CS) delivery ( P= 0.01).
Conclusions: This study revealed that the increase in maternal BMI was accompanied by a decrease in non-reactive parameters of NST and the number of accelerations of the fetal heart rate which is the most important index for fetal health. Also, a significant increase was observed regarding maternal BMI one month after delivery, neonatal birth weight, gestational age, and CS delivery.
Monire Toosi; Marzieh Akbarzadeh; Farkhondeh Sharif; Najaf Zare
Abstract
Background: Anxiety is among the pregnancy complications affecting maternal mental and physical health and attachment to the fetus and newborn. Relaxation training is an effective, simple and available method to address this dismal condition.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect ...
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Background: Anxiety is among the pregnancy complications affecting maternal mental and physical health and attachment to the fetus and newborn. Relaxation training is an effective, simple and available method to address this dismal condition.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of relaxation training on anxiety and maternal attachment to fetus and neonate in primigravida women.
Materials and Methods: This clinical trial comprised 84 primigravida pregnant woman including 42 experimental and 42 controls from a population of pregnant women referred to Shushtari and Hafez hospitals in the summer of 2010. Before the beginning of the study, anxiety and attachment levels of mothers to the fetus were assessed in both groups. In addition to the routine prenatal cares, the experimental group underwent four weekly 90-minutes of relaxation training for one month. The control group received only standard care during pregnancy. At the end of one month intervention, the anxiety and attachment levels of mothers to the fetus were assessed in both groups. The researcher visited mothers, while breastfeeding, on the first day after delivery, and recorded the mothers-neonates attachment behaviors.
Results: The two groups were homogeneous in terms of age, sex and attachment and anxiety levels before the intervention. There were no significant differences in mean score of anxiety (P = 0.618) and attachment (P = 0.897) levels before the intervention in both groups. However, significant differences were observed in the anxiety (P = 0.017) and attachment (P = 0.005) mean scores after the intervention between both groups. Also, the mean score of maternal attachment after the first breastfeeding in the two groups showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.0001).
Conclusions: The results of this study showed that relaxation training reduces anxiety in pregnant women and improves maternal attachment to the newborn.