The effect of pregnant massage on pregnants and fetus: A randomized controlled trial

The Effect of Pregnant Massage on Pregnants and Fetus: A Randomized Controlled Trial Aim: The study has been held to determine the effect of pregnant massage on pregnant and fetus. Method: As a randomized controlled experimental trial, the study has been carried out with 20-35 years–old primipara pregnant women that came to obstetrics polyclinic of a university to evaluate the results of first-trimester screen test, have no infertility story and are not at high risk (inclusion criterias). The participants were randomly allocated to the parallel comparison groups by a central office. The sample selection process in the study has been applied according to CONSORT criteria, and through permutation method, blocked randomization has been done to the records assigned from the center that the study was applied. In the process of gathering data, blinding method hasn't been applied, and it has only been applied to data analysis. 46 pregnant women within 430 ones whose suitability for the study was evaluated have been randomized, the data of 13 pregnant women for pregnant massage group and the data of 17 ones for control group have been analyzed. It has been ascertained that the strength of the study is between 90% and 99% and its effect size is between 0.52 and 1.89, and the sample numbers in the groups are sufficient. The independent variable of the study is pregnant massage practice, and its dependent variables are maternal and fetal well-being, general well-being perception of pregnants, prenatal attachment level, prenatal distress level, biophysical profile (BPP) and pregnant massage satisfaction level. The study practices were carried out after receiving ethics committee and institution approvals after the researcher completed the pregnant massage trainings, and after taking the voluntarily informed consent of the pregnants. The practices have been carried out in the massage office that was formed within the scope of the study. Electronic fetal monitoring (EFM), BPP, vital signs, fetal heart rate (FHR) evaluation have been carried out for the pregnants whose routine gestational monitoring went on during their gestational week between the 30th and 34th in the control group, and Pregnant Description Form, VAS, Prenatal Attachment Inventory-PAI, Revised Prenatal Distress Questionnaire-PDQ have been applied. In the pregnant massage group, between the 30th and 34th weeks, each week for five weeks, a pregnant massage including a 60 minutes deep tissue and Sweden massage methods had been applied once a week. Side-Lying Positioning System that is designed specifically for the pregnant has been used during the practices. Like before the pregnant massage on the first date and after the pregnant massage in the last date in the control group, all the forms and measurements have been applied. Pregnant women's VAS measured before and after the pregnant massage and the evaluation of the other measured data have been held between the 31st and 33rd gestational weeks. Also Visual Analog Patient Satisfaction Scale-VAPSS measured after the each pregnant massage for finding satisfaction level. In the process of the study, any significant side effect related to the practices hasn't occurred. The completion decision of the data gathering process has been determined with power analysis that is carried out by PASS program. The analysis of the study data has been carried out through SPSS 16 program. Findings: At the end of the study, it has been determined that maternal and fetal health indicators are significantly similar as in-groups and intergroups in the control and pregnant massage group during the first and the last follow-up (p>0.05). At the beginning of the study, it has been confirmed that the groups are significantly similar with regard to sociodemographic and measuring device scores (p>0.05). At the end of the study, it has been ascertained that there is a significant difference between both groups in terms of measuring device scores (p<0.05) and there is no a significant difference in the first and the last follow-up measuring device scores of the control group (p>0.05). It has been determined that the general well-being and prenatal attachment level of the pregnant significantly increased, the prenatal distress level of the pregnant significantly reduced (p<0.05) and BBP level of the fetus was significantly above average in the process of the study when the first and the last follow-up measuring device scores in the pregnant massage group were evaluated (p>0.05). Moreover it has been found that the general well-being of the pregnant before pregnant massage and after it showed an increase positively (p<0.05) and the satisfaction of the pregnant women with the pregnant massage is 99%. Conclusion: The primary outcomes of the study is that pregnant massage is not harmful for fetus and pregnant, it increases the general well-being of women significantly, increase prenatal attachment and decrease prenatal distress prominently. As for the secondary outcomes, the satisfaction of the pregnants is quite high for all the massages starting from first massage therapy till the end. This practice is suggested to be implemented as local or full body massage within the routine pregnancy services after learned by the midwives and nurses providing services in pregnancy policlinics and in antenatal preparation classes. It is even suggested that midwives and nurses to be employed in massage centers for pregnancy massage practices and then to organize trainings depending on the findings of studies in our country to be able to implement this practice firstly and then to improve. It is required to do some studies to find out the affects of pregnancy massage on highly risky pregnancy and on fetus. Keywords: Pregnancy; Massage Therapy; Fetus; Prenatal; Distress; Midwife; Nurses. Note: The study has been supported within the scope of Scientific Researches of Ege University Rectorship with the project number of ASYO-017.