The effects of music therapy applied to pregnant women on maternal, fetal, and neonatal results: A randomized controlled study.

The researchers' aims were to investigate the effects of music therapy applied to pregnant women on maternal, fetal, and neonatal results. Sample of the randomized controlled trial consisted of 100 (50 intervention, 50 control) primipara women. Nonstress Test was applied to women in 36th, 37th, and 38th gestational weeks. During the test, we played music to the intervention group and gave routine care to the control group. We determined that the mean scores of State Anxiety Inventory, evaluated during the Nonstress Test applications, decreased significantly after the application.Acceleration, mean number of fetal movements and reactivity findings were significantly higher in the intervention group. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the State Anxiety Inventory means after childbirth and neonatal findings. According to the results, we determined that the music therapy applied to pregnant women decreased maternal anxiety and had positive effects on Nonstress Test findings.

The effect of acupressure on labor pain and the duration of labor when applied to the SP6 point: Randomized clinical trial.

AIM: This study aims to determine the effect of acupressure (SP6) on first stage of labor pain and duration. METHODS: A single blind, randomized controlled experimental trial was conducted with 60 pregnant women: 30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. At the active and transition stages of labor, acupressure was applied to the SP6 point of the experimental group, and the SP6 point of the control group was touched each contraction. The data were collected using the Pregnant Information Form. The Partograph Form was used to determine the duration of active stage and transition stage. The labor pain severity was measured using a numeric rating scale (NRS) immediately after each acupressure/touch SP6 in active and transition stages. A participant questionnaire on satisfaction was administered in the immediate postnatal period. The group difference was tested for statistical significance using the Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: As the primary outcome, labor pain was less and duration of labor was shorter for the experimental group. As the secondary outcome, satisfaction was increased that could be as a result of reduced pain in labor and/or shorter duration of labor. The perceived pain level in the active stage in the experimental group (n = 30) was less than the control group (n = 30) (labor pain: 7.17 + 0.89 vs. 7.66 + 0.71, p = .002). The mean duration of the first stage of labor in the experimental group was shorter than the control group (4.88 + 0.85 hr vs. 5.56 ± 0.66, p = .001). It was also found that pregnant women in the experimental group would recommend this method to other pregnant women (Chi-square = 5.711, p = .017). CONCLUSIONS: Application of acupressure on SP6 was found to have a positive effect on pregnant women's labor experience and reducing the labor pain and shortening the duration of first stage of labor compared to touch on SP6. The women receiving acupressure had higher levels of satisfaction in acupressure application than women receiving only touch on SP6, which could be as a result of reduced pain in labor and/or shorter duration of labor.

Effect of delivery method on sexual dysfunction.

AIM: The aim of our study was to determine the effect of delivery on sexual dysfunction in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study. A total of 142 women who had given birth in the past year, are nursing at the moment and has not experienced postpartum depression participated in the study. Sociodemographic questionnaire and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were used for data collection. Data were analyzed by chi-square (χ2) tests, independent sample t-test, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Among the participants, 45.8% had given birth via vaginal delivery and 54.2% via cesarean section and 67.7% were experiencing sexual dysfunction. Early postpartum stage (0-6 months) was determined to affect the FSFI score and to increase the risk (odds ratio = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.08-0.72; χ2 = 7.20; p < .05). A comparison of the FSFI scores of women in the vaginal delivery group for the first and second 6 months following delivery has yielded a statistically different score across all subdomains of FSFI scores, excluding desire (p < .05). CONCLUSION: When evaluated with a consideration of the pelvic floor, this study is important in demonstrating that vaginal delivery and cesarean section do not differ except for a short period of time in terms of sexual functioning.

The Effects of Different Breastfeeding Training Techniques Given for Primiparous Mothers Before Discharge on the Incidence of Cracked Nipples.

OBJECTIVE: This research investigated the effects of different breastfeeding training techniques for primiparous mothers before discharge on the incidence of cracked nipples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a controlled intervention study that was carried out between 2015 and 2016 on 90 mothers living in Izmir. The mothers were divided into three groups: the demonstration-based training group, brochure group, and routine care-receiving group. The mothers in the "brochure group" were provided with breastfeeding training brochures. Mothers in the demonstration-based training group received one-to-one training using designed doll and puppet tools. RESULTS: The rate of cracked nipples at age 2 weeks was 63.3% in the routine care-receiving group, 56.7% in the brochure group, and 20% in the demonstration-based training group. At the end of the fourth week, the rate was 30% in the routine care-receiving group and less than 10% in the other two groups (p < 0.005). The LATCH scores were higher in the demonstration-based training group than in the other two groups (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in the percentage of exclusive breastfeeding. CONCLUSION: The results documented that breastfeeding training based on one-to-one demonstration utilizing specially designed audiovisual tools was more effective than the other two methods in the prevention of nipple cracks.