Influence of non-pharmacological methods on duration of labor: a systematic review

Abstract

The article aims to verify the influence of MNFs on the duration of the birth process. A systematic review was carried out in the ME-DLINE, Web of Science and LILACS databases, through a combination of terms that cover the topic addressed, from 1996 to 2021/April. The Excel spreadsheet was used to collect data to ex-tract information regarding each selected article, in turn, data analysis included the evaluation and classification of quality, reliability and risk of bias, thus, the following tools were used: Cochrane RoB 2, Checklist and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Warm bath, walking, exercises with a birthing ball, breathing techniques, supine position, acupuncture, acupressure and water birth reduced labor time. While spontaneous pushing, massage and immersion baths prolonged labor. Non-pharmacological methods capable of reducing the duration of labor were hot/warm shower, walking, birth ball exerci-ses, breathing techniques, maternal mobility, dor-sal position, acupuncture, acupressure and water birth, as well. associated applied techniques such as hot/warm bath, ball exercises and lumbosacral massage, as well as immersion bath, ball exerci-ses, aromatherapy, vertical postures and maternal mobility with alternating vertical postures, shortened the birth time.