Effect of Heat and Cold Therapy during the First Stage of Labor on Women Perception of Birth Experience: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effect of heat and cold therapy during the first stage of labor on women perception of birth experience. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: This study was conducted at Qasr al-Aini, Cairo University maternity hospitals at labor and delivery unit. Sample: One hundred parturient women were recruited randomly and allocated to the study and the control groups, fifty for each. Inclusion criteria were primigravida, nulliparous women, age between 18 to 35 years, gestational age between 37 to 41 weeks, single fetus, cephalic presentation, and on the active phase of labor (3 cm dilatation). Data collection tools included; 1) a structured interview questionnaire, 2) labor and delivery assessment sheet, 3) Visual Analogue Scale for pain intensity, 4) Visual Analogue Scale for maternal satisfaction, 5) State Anxiety Inventory, and 6) Crashed ice and hot rubber packs. Intervention: During the first stage of labor at 3 cm cervical dilatation, women of the study group received hot water pack with a temperature of 38-40°C. covered with cotton towel on their lower abdomen, and low back for 15 minutes on left side-lying position, then they received crashed ice pack covered with thin cotton towel in both hands, between thumb and forefinger, (LI4) acupressure point for 5 minutes. Results: There were significant statistical differences between both groups after intervention. Mothers in the study group reported lower mean pain score of 5.78±0.73 SD, lower mean anxiety score of 32.92±3.72 SD and higher satisfaction level with mean of 6.40±0.53 SD than mothers in the control group (P ?0.05). Conclusion & recommendation: Heat and cold therapy is an inexpensive and is particularly empower woman’s birth experience. Further randomized controlled trials are needed for best evidence.

Keywords: Heat, ice, first stage of labor, birth experience, randomized trial.