Altern Ther Health Med. 2000 Jan;6(1):66-74.

Benefits of massage therapy and use of a doula during labor and childbirth.

Source

Potomac Massage Training Institute, USA.

Abstract

This article reviews the most recent literature on touch support and one-to-one support during labor and childbirth. The positive and negative aspects of the traditional birth attendant are presented. Research in one-to-one care and touch support during labor is examined with respect to husband/partner, nurses, nurse-midwives, and doulas (trained labor attendants). According to recent studies, women supported by doulas or midwives benefit by experiencing shorter labors and lower rates of epidural anesthesia and cesarean section deliveries. Also, a smaller percentage of their newborns experience fetal distress and/or are admitted to neonatal intensive care units. Women whose husbands or partners massage them during labor experience shorter labors. Nursing one-to-one support results in no significant obstetric outcomes. Antenatal perineal massage was found to reduce the rates of tears, cesarean section, and instrumental deliveries. Research in perineal massage during labor has shown no benefit.

PMID:: 10631824; [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Publication Types, MeSH Terms

Publication Types

Review

MeSH Terms

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical

Childbirth - MedlinePlus Health Information

Supplemental Content

Save items

Related citations in PubMed

A randomized controlled trial of continuous labor support for middle-class couples: effect on cesarean delivery rates. [Birth. 2008]
A randomized controlled trial of continuous labor support for middle-class couples: effect on cesarean delivery rates.
McGrath SK, Kennell JH. Birth. 2008 Jun; 35(2):92-7.
Effectiveness of nurses as providers of birth labor support in North American hospitals: a randomized controlled trial. [JAMA. 2002]
Effectiveness of nurses as providers of birth labor support in North American hospitals: a randomized controlled trial.
Hodnett ED, Lowe NK, Hannah ME, Willan AR, Stevens B, Weston JA, Ohlsson A, Gafni A, Muir HA, Myhr TL, et al. JAMA. 2002 Sep 18; 288(11):1373-81.
The doula: an essential ingredient of childbirth rediscovered. [Acta Paediatr. 1997]
The doula: an essential ingredient of childbirth rediscovered.
Klaus MH, Kennell JH. Acta Paediatr. 1997 Oct; 86(10):1034-6.
Review The obstetrical and postpartum benefits of continuous support during childbirth. [J Womens Health Gend Based Med...]
Review The obstetrical and postpartum benefits of continuous support during childbirth.
Scott KD, Klaus PH, Klaus MH. J Womens Health Gend Based Med. 1999 Dec; 8(10):1257-64.
Review Antenatal perineal massage for reducing perineal trauma. [Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006]
Review Antenatal perineal massage for reducing perineal trauma.
Beckmann MM, Garrett AJ. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jan 25; (1):CD005123. Epub 2006 Jan 25.

See reviews... See all...

Recent activity

Clear Turn Off Turn On

Benefits of massage therapy and use of a doula during labor and childbirth.
Benefits of massage therapy and use of a doula during labor and childbirth.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2000 Jan ;6(1):66-74.

PubMed
Expression of multiple proteins within single primary cortical neurons using a r...
Expression of multiple proteins within single primary cortical neurons using a replication deficient HSV vector.
Biotechniques. 1999 Dec ;27(6):1156-60.

PubMed
Prediction of adverse outcomes in children with sickle cell disease.
Prediction of adverse outcomes in children with sickle cell disease.
N Engl J Med. 2000 Jan 13 ;342(2):83-9.

PubMed
Imbalances between tumor necrosis factor-alpha and its soluble receptor forms, a...
Imbalances between tumor necrosis factor-alpha and its soluble receptor forms, and interleukin-1beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in BAL fluid of cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis.
Chest. 2000 Jan ;117(1):103-9.

PubMed
Formation of corneal endothelium is essential for anterior segment development -...
Formation of corneal endothelium is essential for anterior segment development - a transgenic mouse model of anterior segment dysgenesis.
Development. 2000 Feb ;127(3):533-42.

PubMed

Your browsing activity is empty.

Activity recording is turned off.

Turn recording back on

PubMed

Result Filters

Display Settings:

Send to:

Benefits of massage therapy and use of a doula during labor and childbirth.

Source

Abstract

Publication Types, MeSH Terms

Publication Types

MeSH Terms

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical

Supplemental Content

Save items

Related citations in PubMed

Recent activity

Simple NCBI Directory

Getting Started

Resources

Popular

Featured

NCBI Information