Relaxation and breathing techniques do not reduce the need for drugs during
childbirth, a new study indicates.
The study from Sweden, which included more than 1,000 women and their
partners, found that pre-pregnancy training in breathing, relaxation and
massage techniques aimed at promoting ‘natural’ childbirth produced “no
measureable benefits”.
The scientists had hypothesised that participants in the ‘natural’
childbirth group would have lower rates of epidural or spinal anaesthetic
and a more positive overall experience of childbirth.
But they found that the experiences of childbirth and stress were similar in
the women in the ‘natural’ group and the ‘standard’ group.
The epidural rate was 52% and the spontaneous vaginal birth rate 66% in both
groups. The caesarean section rate was 20% in the ‘natural’ group and 21.5%
in the standard group. The instrumental delivery rate was 14% in the
‘natural’ group and 12% in the standard group.
There were also no statistically significant differences between the groups
in the satisfaction of the childbirth experience or postnatal parental
stress (measured at three months).
The researchers concluded that natural childbirth preparation does not
reduce the need for epidural analgesia or improve the birth experience, when
compared to standard antenatal instruction.
The study was published in the British Journal of Gynaecology (BJOG).
Prof Philip Steer, BJOG editor-in-chief, said the findings of the study were
“contrary to what many of us would expect”.
“The lack of benefit from breathing and relaxation techniques is
disappointing, and suggests that parents’ experience of childbirth is
affected more by their personality and previous psychological orientation
than by the relatively limited training that is possible during pregnancy,”
Prof Steer said.
“Further research is required to establish if the results of such a trial
would be similar in other countries, where standard antenatal preparation
classes may differ.”
Source : www.irishhealth.com
