In 2017, a study conducted by Seda Unalmis Erdogan, Emre Yanikkerem, and Asli Goker has shown that low back massage during labor can significantly reduce perceived birth pain and enhance overall satisfaction with the delivery experience.

The research, which was designed as a study-control experimental trial, involved 62 pregnant women. Half of the participants (31 women) received low back massages at different stages of labor, while the other half served as a control group. The massages were administered at three critical points during labor—when the cervix was dilated to 3-4 cm (latent phase), 5-7 cm (active phase), and 8-10 cm (transition phase). Pain levels were measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during each phase.

The results were striking. The women who received massages reported significantly lower pain scores throughout labor compared to those in the control group. In the early stages of labor, the massage group had an average VAS score of 5.2 compared to 7.3 in the control group. As labor progressed, the differences became even more pronounced, with second-phase VAS scores of 6.6 in the massage group and 8.8 in the control group. By the final phase, the massage group maintained lower pain scores (6.7 vs. 9.2), highlighting the effectiveness of massage in managing labor pain.

While the duration of the second stage of labor was slightly shorter in the massage group (24.6 minutes compared to 31.7 minutes), the difference was not statistically significant. However, the study revealed a notable increase in delivery satisfaction among those who received massages, with an average satisfaction score of 8.8, compared to 6.9 in the control group.

The researchers concluded that lower back massage during labor offers significant benefits in reducing pain and enhancing the birthing experience. They recommend that healthcare professionals consider incorporating massage therapy into routine care for laboring women to help ease the process and improve patient satisfaction.

Reference: Erdogan, S. U., Yanikkerem, E., & Goker, A. (2017). Effects of low back massage on perceived birth pain and satisfaction. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 28, 169-175.