Labour Pain

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• Definition
• Introduction
• Signs & Symptoms
• Research Summary

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Executive Summary

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Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Research into Chinese medicine treatment for Labour Pain" summarising the research below and using language that can be easily understood by patients and avoiding medical jargon using a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Researched Chinese medicine treatments for Labour Pain" summarising the research below in an objective and easy to understand way, and using language that can be easily understood by patients. Group the article into Chinese medicine treatments first, followed by nutrition and other treatments. Avoid using medical jargon and use a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write me a concise but easy to understand executive summary on the topic of "Chinese medicine treatments for Labour Pain" based on the following research that I will give you. Your summary should be 2 paragraphs long in Australian English spelling and include references to the studies.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2022 in the journal Explore: The Journal of Science & Healing found that Inhalation and massage therapy with lavender essential oil significantly mitigates perceived labour pain in women. The study was implemented using a random controlled trial on pregnant women divided into three groups – a control group, a group for lavender essence inhalation and a third group for lavender essence massage. After being divided into their respective groups, the first stage of labour was divided into three phases – early, active and transition – during which the interventions were applied. In the massage group, sacral compression and lower back massage were given, incorporating 2 drops of lavender oil in each labour phase. For the inhalation group, 2 drops of lavender oil were dripped onto the palms of the participants, who were then asked to inhale it for 3 minutes. Individual information was gathered through formats like the Personal Information Form, Visual Analogue Scale and Postpartum Assessment of Women Survey. The results showed that women who underwent inhalation and massage therapies with lavender essential oil experienced less severe labour pain as compared to the control group. It was also discovered that the lavender oil inhalation was notably beneficial during the latent phase of labour whilst massage therapy demonstrated greater effectiveness during the active and transition periods. Therefore, incorporating lavender oil via massage therapy and inhalation methods during labour and delivery is highly recommended as a supplementary method to manage labour pain.

A Clinical Study published in 2022 in the journal Jurnal Kebidanan found that Lavender aromatherapy is more effective in reducing pain intensity during active Phase I labor than lemon aromatherapy. The methodology employed for this study was a quasi-experimental format utilizing a non-equivalent control group pretest and posttest design. The research was conducted in the City of Mataram with a total of 30 mothers, 15 of whom were given lavender aromatherapy and the remaining 15 given lemon aromatherapy. All participants were selected using a total sampling technique. The results showed a marked decrease in pain intensity for those mothers who were given lavender aromatherapy compared to those who received lemon aromatherapy, during the active phase I of labor. Despite both groups displaying a significant decline in discomfort according to the posttest data, the average decrease was more pronounced for the group that used lavender aromatherapy. This evidence advocates for the further exploration of lavender's potential uses in childbirth pain relief management.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2021 in the journal Current Reviews in Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology found that Inhalation of chamomile oil significantly reduces pain after cesarean section in first-time mothers, decreasing the need for analgesics. The study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial involving 128 first-time pregnant women who elected to have a cesarean section. Participants were either given one drop of 5% chamomile oil, or a placebo drop, which they inhaled for 15-20 minutes from a distance of 5 cm from their noses, concurrently at 4, 8, and 12 hours after surgery. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) both half an hour before and after the inhalation. The results revealed that there was no significant statistical difference between the chamomile and placebo group regarding baseline pain prior to the intervention. However, after the administration of the chamomile oil or placebo, a significant difference in pain was observed at 4, 8, and 12 hours after the intervention. Chamomile oil inhalation was found to dramatically reduce the intensity of pain compared to the post-intervention pain experienced by the placebo group. The use of chamomile oil as a form of aromatherapy after the cesarean section was noted to not only reduce pain in first-time mothers, but also lessen their need for analgesics.

A Review Article published in 2021 in the journal Disease and Diagnosis found that Lavender aromatherapy, whether administered through massage or inhalation, appears effective in reducing active phase labor pain. The researchers conducted their study by performing a detailed search using a number of specific keywords such as lavender, childbirth, labor, pregnancy, labor pain, aromatherapy, and delivery across multiple databases. These databases included MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Using these keywords they extracted relevant data from the seven most reliable studies they found, two of which originated in Egypt and Indonesia, and remaining five in Iran. The chosen studies depicted a range of qualities, with some using massage aromatherapy, and others applying inhalation as their method of practice. In analyzing these studies, it was found that all of them indicated that lavender aromatherapy, regardless of whether it was applied via massage or inhalation, had the potential to lessen the pain felt during the active phase of labor. The studies provided basis for insightful consideration of the application of lavender aromatherapy as a viable method for managing labor pain.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences found that Aromatherapy, specifically with lavender essential oil, can effectively alleviate maternal anxiety and labor pain. The methodology involved a systematic review of five databases - PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Scientific Information Database - for studies on the use of aromatherapy for pain and anxiety management during labor. Search keywords included variations of aromatherapy, essential oil, aroma, pain, anxiety, labor, and delivery. The quality, bias, and reliability of the identified studies were assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's 'Risk of bias' protocol. 33 studies met the inclusion criteria, with various methods of aromatherapy application utilized, such as inhalation, massage, footbaths, birthing pools, acupressure, and compresses. The most commonly used essential oil was lavender, used individually or mixed with other essential oils. These studies, predominantly conducted in Iran, formed the basis for our analysis and provided evidence to assess the positive impact of aromatherapy on labor pain and anxiety.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2019 in the journal Women and Birth found that Aromatherapy significantly reduces labor pain and duration without impacting emergency caesarean section, membrane rupture, and the onset of spontaneous labor. Researchers undertook a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials for determining the efficacy of aromatherapy in mitigating labor pain and reducing its duration. Various academic and scientific databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar, and Clinicaltrials.gov were employed to find relevant trials. A total of 17 trials involving low-risk laboring women were identified and included in the meta-analysis. Observations from the meta-analysis revealed that aromatherapy effectively alleviated labor pain during the transition phase and reduced the periods of active phase and third stage labor. Additionally, a trend of decreasing duration was noticed during the second stage. Notably, aromatherapy did not have any marked effects on emergency caesarean sections, membrane ruptures, or the initiation of spontaneous labor, indicating its general safety for expectant mothers. However, the diversity of outcomes across different trials was noted.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Cancer Research found that Aromatherapy with lavender demonstrated effectiveness in reducing labor pain during childbirth. In the methodology for this systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers independently conducted searches across international databases such as MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus. The search utilized specific symbols and terms to locate relevant randomized clinical trials. Data was then statistically analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-analysis (CMA) software. In the discussion of results, a total of 244 primary studies were initially found, and ultimately 5 studies, which included 541 participants, were analyzed in the review. It was found that aromatherapy with lavender reduced labor pain in the active phase of childbirth. Overall, the clinical trials were of moderate quality and combinatory. Importantly, the use of lavender in aromatherapy led to a notable difference in labor pain between the aromatherapy groups and control groups. This finding suggests the potential of lavender aromatherapy as a useful tool for pain relief during labor.

A published in 2018 in the journal Nursing and Midwifery Studies found that Inhalation aromatherapy with Boswellia Carterii essential oil can significantly reduce labor pain intensity in nulliparous women. In this randomized controlled trial, 126 nulliparous women were split into two groups — an aromatherapy group and a placebo group. A piece of gauze was soaked with Boswellia Carterii essential oil diluted in normal saline for the aromatherapy group and was attached to the collar of each woman in this group. This intervention was repeated at 30-minute intervals up to a cervical dilation of 10 centimeters. The placebo group intervention mirrored those of the aromatherapy group but used only normal saline on the gauze. The intensity of labor pain was assessed before the intervention and at certain cervical dilation stages using a numeric pain rating scale. The results revealed that the aromatherapy group experienced significantly less labor pain compared to the placebo group at all tracked stages of cervical dilation. It was found that Boswellia Carterii essential oil can indeed mitigate labor pain when used in inhalation aromatherapy. No significant differences were observed concerning the 1 and 5 minute Apgar scores across both groups.

A Systematic Review published in 2010 in the journal BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology found that Acupuncture ineffective for labour pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis assessed acupuncture's efficacy in relieving labor pain. Ten randomized controlled trials involving 2038 women were analyzed. Acupuncture showed no significant superiority over minimal acupuncture at 1 and 2 hours post-treatment. Electroacupuncture demonstrated temporary pain reduction at 15 and 30 minutes compared to placebo, but effects weren't sustained. When compared to no intervention, acupuncture provided only an 11% reduction in pain for the initial 30 minutes. However, in trials against conventional analgesia, acupuncture led to reduced meperidine and other analgesic use. Overall, evidence doesn't strongly support acupuncture for labor pain, urging further research.

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