Effects of Relaxation-Focused Nursing Care in Women in Preterm Labor.

BACKGROUND: Threatened preterm labor is a common problem that causes women to be hospitalized. During this period, physical problems such as a decrease in muscle functions, edema and pain, and psychological problems such as anxiety and stress may develop. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of relaxation-focused nursing care state anxiety, cortisol, contraction severity, nursing care satisfaction, knowledge, and birth weeks on threatened preterm labor. METHOD: This study was a pre-post single-blind randomized controlled trial. The study was conducted with 66 women in the threatened preterm labor process, 33 in the intervention group and 33 in the control group. The intervention group received relaxation-focused nursing care, which comprises a 2-day program in four stages. The data were collected before and after the relaxation-focused nursing care, and after the birth. RESULTS: In the intervention group, state anxiety, cortisol level, and contraction severity were lower than those in the control group (p < .05). The knowledge level about threatened preterm labor, satisfaction from nursing care, and birth weeks were higher in the intervention group (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Relaxation-focused nursing care was found to reduce the state anxiety in women, improve the knowledge level about threatened preterm labor and birth weeks, and decrease the level of cortisol. Therefore, it is recommended to use relaxation-focused nursing care in threatened preterm labor.

Living with uncertainty: a Swedish qualitative interview study of women at home on sick leave due to premature labour.

OBJECTIVE: to highlight the experiences of pregnant women, experiencing preterm labour, being on sick leave at home and how they handled their daily life. DESIGN: qualitative, descriptive using open interviews. SETTING: 10 antenatal clinics in the south of Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: 15 pregnant women who were on sick leave for premature labour. FINDINGS: four categories were identified: how to interpret unpredictable contractions in the uterus? Having concern regarding premature labour of their child, handling the new situation and finding a balance, and from work to sick leave. KEY CONCLUSIONS: to be on sick leave for premature contractions can be compared with enduring a situation of inactivity. The woman finds herself in a stressful situation which she must learn to handle this and find a balance. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: it appears that supportive information offers the women in premature labour the opportunity of increased participation and responsibility which thereby positively affects her well-being.