Comparing maternal outcomes in nulliparous women in labor in physiological and conventional labor: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Background and purpose: Nowadays delivery of unnecessary medical interventions has led to adverse outcomes in mother and infant. This study compared maternal outcomes in nulliparous women in labor, in two methods of physiological and traditional delivery. Materials and methods: This single blind clinical trial was performed in 370 nulliparous mothers in Talesh Shahid Nooraani Hospital. The subjects were randomly assigned into physiological and conventional delivery (group A and B) through RandList. The intervention for both group included aromatherapy, pelvic exercises with ball, back and stomach massage during contractions using Lavandula oil, and an accompanying person in active phase of labor. The data was collected through observation and interviewing the mothers using a checklist of five parts including: profile of subjects and assessment of first, second, third, and fourth stages of delivery and also ten days after delivery. T-test and chi-square were used in SPSS (ver13) to analyze the data. Results: The rates of cesarean section in groups A and B were 11.4% and 35.1%, respectively (P<0.05). The incidence rate of infection was significantly lower in group A (5.9%) compared with that of the group B (14.1%) (P<0.05). Conclusion: Attention to the physiological process of labor and avoiding unsuitable medical interventions could reduce maternal outcomes. Therefore, prenatal care educations could inform the mothers about normal delivery process.