Acupressure as a potentially effective strategy for reducing the intensity and length of labour pain

Introduction: Labor is a process that occurs in many types and unlike other acute and chronic pain, labor pain is not related to any disease or pathology. Stress and anxiety, prolonged labor, irregular heart rate in the fetus, increased caesarean section and a low Apgar score in the newborn are all complications of pain. Non-pharmacological applications can be performed independently by a midwife and a nurse in consultation with the pregnant woman. Acupressure is a non-invasive technique used to speed up labor, relieve pain, and shorten the time of delivery. Objective: The main objective of the literature review is to see how effective acupressure is in reducing the intensity and duration of labor pain in primigravid and multigravid women. Methods: From 2000 to 2021, Pub Med, Web of Science, Cochrane, Google Search, and Research Gate were used to conduct a comprehensive search of databases and internet search engines for information on the effects of acupressure on duration and intensity of labor pain. Result: A total of 52 literatures were found, 35 of them were inspected, and 20 articles were included in the review, both in abstract and full text. According to the inclusion criteria, a total of 2577 people were included in the study. Randomized Control Trials (RCTs), single or double blinded trials, and experimental research were included in review. Conclusion: The acupressure was more effective in the early stages of labour, and the effects of the intervention were more obvious right away. Furthermore, acupressure reduces symptoms of pain during the first stage of labour without causing any harm to the mother or the foetus.