Written By: IJCP Editorial Team

Published On: 13 Aug, 2025 5:18 PM | Updated On: 14 Aug, 2025 7:52 AM

Labor Massage Linked to Lower Meconium Rates

A randomized controlled study evaluated the impact of sacral massage on the occurrence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid and the duration of fetal descent in labor among term, nulliparous women with singleton, low-risk pregnancies in the vertex position.

A total of 220 participants were randomly assigned to either a massage group or a control group. The intervention group received sacral massage using friction and tapotement techniques, applied for 10 minutes by a midwife at the onset of contractions during the intrapartum period once cervical dilation reached 10 cm. Pain intensity was measured using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale.

Key findings:

• No significant difference was observed in the length of the first stage of labor or total labor duration between groups.
• The massage group experienced significantly fewer perineal injuries.
• A lower incidence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid was observed in the massage group (statistically significant).
• The duration of fetal descent was significantly shorter in the massage group.
• Pain scores were significantly lower in the massage group compared with controls.

Conclusion:

Sacral massage during the second stage of labor may provide maternal and neonatal benefits, including reduced incidence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid, shorter fetal descent time, fewer perineal injuries, and lower reported pain. These findings support the incorporation of sacral massage as a complementary intervention in obstetric practice.

Reference: J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2022 Oct 21. doi:10.1111/jog.15460.