A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of acupressure wristbands for the prevention of nausea and vomiting during labour and delivery

IntroductionApproximately 50% of women experience nausea or vomiting during labour. P6 acupoint stimulation reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy and after chemotherapy. The aim of this randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was to determine whether P6 acupressure prevented nausea and vomiting during labour and delivery.MethodsAfter ethical approval and informed consent, women admitted for induction of labour, or in spontaneous labour, were randomised to receive either acupressure bands (Pressure Right™) (Group A) or sham placebo bands (Group P) applied to each wrist. Exclusions included recent nausea or vomiting.ResultsWe consented 365 women and randomised 340 (170 per group). The groups had similar patient and labour characteristics. The incidence of nausea and/or vomiting did not significantly differ (Group A 53% vs. Group P 50%, P = 0.58). There was no significant difference between groups (A vs. P, respectively) in the incidence of nausea (52% vs. 45%), vomiting (27% vs. 28%), rescue antiemetic treatment (27% in both), severity of nausea or vomiting, satisfaction with control of nausea or ratings of inconvenience or discomfort from the bands (10% vs. 11%). Factors significantly associated with emetic symptoms were smoking (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.07–4.37), opioid analgesia (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.06–3.59), history of motion-induced or postoperative nausea and vomiting (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.17–2.94) and higher body mass index (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.12).ConclusionIn this study acupressure wristbands applied bilaterally did not reduce the incidence of nausea and vomiting during labour and delivery.