A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the support person of a client who is in the first stage of labor. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include regarding effleurage?
A.
“Assist her to breathe in deeply at the beginning of each contraction.”
B.
“Apply steady pressure with this tennis ball to her sacral area.”
C.
“Gently stroke her abdomen during contractions.”
D.
“Help her to focus on an object in the room.”
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is C. “Gently stroke her abdomen during contractions.”
Explanation:
Effleurage is a specific type of light, gentle massage used during labor to provide pain relief and relaxation. It involves lightly stroking the abdomen in circular or rhythmic motions, typically during contractions. This technique helps distract the laboring woman from the intensity of contractions and stimulates sensory nerves that may reduce the perception of pain. Effleurage can be particularly effective during the early stages of labor, including the first stage, when contractions are becoming regular and increasing in intensity but may still be manageable without stronger pain relief methods.
Effleurage works based on the “gate control theory” of pain, which suggests that the brain can only process so much sensory information at one time. By focusing on the gentle sensation of stroking, the brain is distracted from processing the intense signals of pain from contractions. This can make the experience more tolerable for the laboring woman.
The other options represent different pain relief or labor support techniques but do not describe effleurage:
- A. “Assist her to breathe in deeply at the beginning of each contraction.” refers to breathing techniques used during labor to help manage pain and anxiety but is unrelated to effleurage.
- B. “Apply steady pressure with this tennis ball to her sacral area.” describes counter-pressure, often used to relieve back pain during labor, but it is a different pain management technique from effleurage.
- D. “Help her to focus on an object in the room.” describes focusing or imagery techniques used for relaxation during labor but does not involve effleurage.
Effleurage can be taught to the support person so they can assist the laboring woman in using this technique to alleviate discomfort, thus enhancing her comfort and relaxation during contractions.