title: Impact of self-administered relaxation and guided imagery techniques during final trimester and birth.
abstract: The objective of this study was to test if and how self-administered practice of relaxation techniques, positive affirmation and guided imagery, in the final part of pregnancy had an impact on giving birth. Further to see if the use of a simple method, a CD with a booklet, with no previous training or specific support of the participants (neither required nor delivered), affected the birth experience. Outcome measures were monitored both during and after delivery: During delivery, pain and anxiety were measured at different stages of birth. Post-delivery Wellbeing (Edmonton Scale 0-10, where 10 is the worst possible feeling of Wellbeing), pain, anxiety, Apgar score, duration of birth, complications and anesthesia/analgesic were recorded. Those in the CD-intervention group also reported how many times they had practiced the techniques. The study employed a randomized controlled trial. Results show that the CD-intervention group had a significantly better score on total Wellbeing, as measured by the ESAS (0-10) Edmonton Scale.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Section for Gastroenterology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0027 Oslo, Norway. merete@gedde-dahl.no
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gedde-Dahl
authors.forename: Egil A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Fors
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy; D008603:Mental Health; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012063:Relaxation; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support