A Descriptive Study of Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Early Labor in Nulliparous Term Singleton Vertex (NTSV) Women

Authors

Candida R. Bell, Baptist Health South FloridaFollow
Acklin Gordon, Baptist Health South FloridaFollow
Dianna Hill, Baptist Health South FloridaFollow
Elba Rivera, Baptist Health South FloridaFollow
Heather R. Cowherd, Baptist Health South FloridaFollow
Ivette Ramos, Baptist Health South FloridaFollow
Martha Valdes, Baptist Health South FloridaFollow
Maureen Gordon, Baptist Health South FloridaFollow
Silvia Foltan, Baptist Health South FloridaFollow
Silvia Medina, Baptist Health South FloridaFollow
Catherina C. Chang Martinez, Baptist Health South FloridaFollow

Abstract

Introduction: Positional changes may contribute to progression of labor in nulliparous women. We investigated the use of non-invasive, non-pharmacological interventions during the first stage of labor in nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) women at a community hospital in the U.S. Another aim was to compare the times from the first intervention to completion of the first stage of labor across three interventions.

Methods: Ours was a descriptive, retrospective study of 98 NTSV women from January to June 2025. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27.

Results: Most women were Hispanic (71%), averaging 31 years old (SD = 4.66), with a mean gestational age of 39 weeks (SD = 1.31). Kruskal-Wallis testing indicated a statistically significant difference in mean duration of labor in minutes across the three groups, Χ2(2, 97) = 54.94, p < .001. Pairwise comparisons using Dunn-Bonferroni corrections revealed that the mean rank for the peanut ball group was significantly lower than the CUB device (p < .001) and the WMFMS (p < .001). The peanut ball group was associated with a shorter duration for the completion of first-stage labor by 811 minutes over the wireless maternal fetal monitoring group, and by 679 minutes over the comfortable upright birth device group.

Discussion: Routine implementation of non-invasive, non-pharmacological interventions to support nulliparous women with positional changes that may contribute to a positive birthing experience are needed. Interventions that encourage a non-supine posture and movement during the first stage of labor should be advocated.

Recommended Citation

Bell, C. R., Gordon, A., Hill, D., Rivera, E., Cowherd, H. R., Ramos, I., Valdes, M., Gordon, M., Foltan, S., Medina, S., & Chang Martinez, C. C. (2025). A Descriptive Study of Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Early Labor in Nulliparous Term Singleton Vertex (NTSV) Women. Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal, 8(1), 93-104. https://doi.org/10.55481/2578-3750.1249

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