Assessing effects of BL67 points stimulation on fetal heart rate parameters and fetal movements during nonstress test

Abstract

CONTEXT: One of the main goals of antenatal testing is to identify fetuses at the risk of neurologic injury or death so that these adverse outcomes can be prevented. We want to assess the effects of BL67 points' stimulation on fetal heart rate parameters and fetal movements during nonstress test (NST). We did a quasi-experimental design in Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Isfahan in 2011. AIMS: This study aims to assessment of the effects of BL67 points' stimulation on fetal heart rate parameters and fetal movements. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: We did a randomized controlled clinical trial in Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Isfahan in 2011. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study is a quasi-experimental design that was conducted in one group and the two steps (before-after study). Participants were pregnant women (primigravida) who were 35-18 years that refer to Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Isfahan in 2011 to receive routine prenatal care. The 32 pregnant women were selected for acupressure during the second NST. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The statistical processing was performed by descriptive, paired t-test through SPSS version 20. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in mean number of accelerations in fetal heart rate and mean number of fetal movement before and after intervention; however, there was a significant difference in mean time to the second acceleration before and after the intervention (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: No difference between parameters of the fetal heart rate before and after stimulation and lack of uterine response by this method is a significant advantage and is probably why stimulating this point could not create a risk to the fetuses.