Effectiveness of nipple stimulation technique in aiding spontaneous onset of labor in low risk primigravida

Low risk Primigravida who are at 37completed weeks of gestation, fitting the inclusion criteria will be recruited from the OPD during their routine antenatal visit to the hospital. A baseline cervical scoring using Bishop’s score will be done along with pelvic assessment and those with cephalopelvic disproportion will be excluded. These low risk pregnant women will be provided charts explaining the technique of nipple stimulation and its advantages as per

the consultant’s advice. The women who are consenting for the study will be taken as stimulation group and those are not willing for the study will be taken as non- stimulation group (each with sample size of 71). This nipple stimulation is a standard method of practice in some units, as it helps in cervical ripening and timely onset of labour without use of any pharmacological means. These women will be followed weekly in their regular weekly

antenatal follow up. No extra visits will be required for this study. They will be advised to keep a daily dairy of the manoeuvre and to be shown in the subsequent visit. At 39weeks, these women are to be followed up and those who has not done the manoeuvre will be excluded from the study. A repeat Bishop’s score has to be done at 39+ weeks of gestation, and changes in the cervical scoring to be noted in both the groups. These women will be

advised to attend immediately to the obstetric casualty in case of pain abdomen associated with tightening, leaking or bleeding PV or decreased fetal movements.