The Effect of Uterine and Nipple Stimulation on Induction With Oxytocin and the Labor Process

Aims: The present research study was conducted with the objective of determining the effect of uterine and nipple stimulation on induction with oxytocin and the birth process.

Methods: A randomized controlled experiment was conducted at the maternity ward of a state hospital located in the province of Sivas in Turkey. Three hundred ninety pregnant women who were giving birth via vaginal delivery were randomly assigned to three groups (nipple stimulation, uterine stimulation, control). After the birth, the groups were assessed in terms of the birth duration and synthetic induction with oxytocin. Statistical analyses were performed through the use of SPSS 14.0 software and included analysis of variance, Tukey's test, Dunnett's test, Tamhane's T2 test, and chi-square test.

Results: The study established statistically significant differences (p < .05) among the groups in terms of the average durations of the first, second and third phases of the action of birth, the status concerning delivery by C-section and the application of labor induction. The phases of birth were shorter for the nipple stimulation group (first phase: 3.8 hours, second phase: 16 minutes, third phase: 5 minutes) and the uterine stimulation group (first phase: 4.0 hours, second phase: 21 minutes, third phase: 6 minutes) when compared to the control group (first phase: 6.8 hours, second phase: 27 minutes, third phase: 6 minutes). In the control group, 89.2% of the pregnant women were subject to labor induction and 8.5% to cesarean section. No women in the nipple stimulation group or uterine stimulation group had a cesarean section.

Linking evidence to action: Nipple and uterine stimulation reduce the frequency of elective labor induction, the rate of relevant complications, and support normal vaginal birth by providing endogenous labor induction. Therefore, these interventions should be considered for pregnant women in labor.