Effects of Novel Hegu Acupressure Clips on Pain Relief During the First Stage of Labour in Primigravidas

Abstract

Background: Pain during the first stage of labour lasts the longest, making innovative pain management crucial for maternal well-being and improved outcomes. A 20-minute Hegu acupressure session can effectively relieve this pain and discomfort. Objective: To develop and assess the effectiveness of novel Hegu acupressure clips for pain relief during the first stage of labour. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with a sample of 52 primigravidae in the labour room of Bueng Kan Hospital, randomly divided into two groups of 26 each. The experimental group used novel Hegu acupressure clips with standard pressure during cervical dilation of 4–7 cm for 20 minutes, applied only during contractions. The control group used the same clips but with non-standard pressure. Data were collected using a labour pain coping behaviour scale at pre- and post-test. Pain levels were analysed using descriptive statistics and compared with an independent sample t-test. Results: There were no significant differences in pre-test pain levels between the experimental and control groups during the first stage of labour (p > 0.05). However, post-test pain levels in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05), indicating a substantial reduction in pain. Conclusion: The novel Hegu acupressure clips effectively relieve pain during the first stage of labour and could be integrated into standard labour management practices to enhance maternal comfort.