Lowe NK. The nature of labor pain. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002 May;186(5 Suppl Nature):S16-24. https://doi.org/10.1067/mob.2002.121427. PMID: 12011870.

Melzack R, Kinch R, Dobkin P, Lebrun M, Taenzer P. Severity of labour pain: Influence of physical as well as psychologic variables. Can Med Assoc J. 1984;130:579–84.

CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Zuarez-Easton S, Erez O, Zafran N, Carmeli J, Garmi G, Salim R. Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic options for pain relief during labor: an expert review. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023;228:S1246-59 Elsevier Inc.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Smith A, Laflamme E, Komanecky C. Pain management in labor. Am Fam Physician. 2021;103:355–64.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Eltzschig HK, Lieberman ES, Camann WR. Regional anesthesia and analgesia for labor and delivery. N Engl J Med. 2003;348:319–32.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Brownridge P. The nature and consequences of childbirth pain. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1995;59:S9-15 Elsevier.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Scott JR, Rose NB. Effect of psychoprophylaxis (Lamaze Preparation) on labor and delivery in primiparas. N Engl J Med. 1976;294:1205–7.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Baljon K, Romli MH, Ismail AH, Khuan L, Chew BH. Effectiveness of breathing exercises, foot reflexology and massage (BRM) on maternal and newborn outcomes among primigravidae in saudi arabia: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Womens Health. 2022;14:279–95.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Baljon KJ, Baljon KJ, Romli MH, Ismail AH, Khuan L, Chew BH. Effectiveness of breathing exercises, foot reflexology and back massage (BRM) on labour pain, anxiety, duration, satisfaction, stress hormones and newborn outcomes among primigravidae during the first stage of labour in Saudi Arabia: A study protocol for. BMJ Open. 2020;10:1–13.

Article  Google Scholar 

Heim MA, Makuch MY. Breathing techniques during labor: a multinational narrative review of efficacy. J Perinat Educ. 2023;32:23–34.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Leutenegger V, Grylka-Baeschlin S, Wieber F, Daly D, Pehlke-Milde J. The effectiveness of skilled breathing and relaxation techniques during antenatal education on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a systematic review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. BioMed Central. 2022;22:856.

Google Scholar 

Kaple GS, Patil S. Effectiveness of jacobson relaxation and lamaze breathing techniques in the management of pain and stress during labor: an experimental study. Cureus. 2023;15:1–8.

Google Scholar 

Akca A, Corbacioglu Esmer A, Ozyurek ES, Aydin A, Korkmaz N, Gorgen H, et al. The influence of the systematic birth preparation program on childbirth satisfaction Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2017;295:1127–33 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Rantala A, Hakala M, Pölkki T. Women’s perceptions of the pain assessment and nonpharmacological pain relief methods used during labor: A cross-sectional survey. Eur J Midwifery. 2022;6:1–10.

Article  Google Scholar 

Tabatabaeichehr M, Mortazavi H. The effectiveness of aromatherapy in the management of labor pain and anxiety: a systematic review. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2020;30:449–58.

PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Tanvisut R, Traisrisilp K, Tongsong T. Efficacy of aromatherapy for reducing pain during labor: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2018;297:1145–50 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Shaterian N, Pakzad R, Fekri SD, Abdi F, Shaterian N, Shojaee M. Labor pain in different dilatations of the cervix and apgar scores affected by aromatherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Sci Reproductive Sciences. 2022;29:2488–504.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

McKinney JA, Vilchez G, Jowers A, Atchoo A, Lin L, Kaunitz AM, et al. Water birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis of maternal and neonatal outcomes. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024;230:S961-S979.e33 Elsevier.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Burns E, Feeley C, Hall PJ, Vanderlaan J. Systematic review and meta-analysis to examine intrapartum interventions, and maternal and neonatal outcomes following immersion in water during labour and waterbirth. BMJ Open. 2022;12(7):e056517.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Nutter E, Meyer S, Shaw-Battista J, Marowitz A. Waterbirth: An integrative analysis of peer-reviewed literature. J Midwifery Women’s Heal. 2014;59:286–319.

Article  Google Scholar 

Neiman E, Austin E, Tan A, Anderson CM, Chipps E. Outcomes of waterbirth in a us hospital-based midwifery practice: a retrospective cohort study of water immersion during labor and birth. J Midwifery Women’s Heal. 2020;65:216–23.

Article  Google Scholar 

Berger AA, Liu Y, Mosel L, Champagne KA, Ruoff MT, Cornett EM, Kaye AD, Imani F, Shakeri A, Varrassi G, Viswanath O, Urits I. Efficacy of Dry Needling and Acupuncture in the Treatment of Neck Pain. Anesth Pain Med. 2021 Apr 3;11(2):e113627. https://doi.org/10.5812/aapm.113627. PMID: 34336626; PMCID: PMC8314077.

Schlaeger JM, Gabzdyl EM, Bussell JL, Takakura N, Yajima H, Takayama M, et al. Acupuncture and acupressure in labor. J Midwifery Women’s Heal. 2017;62:12–28.

Article  Google Scholar 

Berger AA, Liu Y, Jin K, Kaneb A, Welschmeyer A, Cornett EM, Kaye AD, Imani F, Khademi SH, Varrassi G, Viswanath O, Urits I. Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Chronic Abdominal Pain. Anesth Pain Med. 2021 Mar 17;11(2):e113027. https://doi.org/10.5812/aapm.113027. PMID: 34336622; PMCID: PMC8314076.

Robinson CL, Berger A, Sottosanti E, Li M, Kaneb A, Keefe J, et al. Acupuncture as Part of Multimodal Analgesia for Chronic Pain. 2022;14:1–24.

Google Scholar 

Perry R, Leach V, Davies P, Penfold C, Ness A, Churchill R. An overview of systematic reviews of complementary and alternative therapies for fibromyalgia using both AMSTAR and ROBIS as quality assessment tools. Syst Rev. 2017;6:1–23 BioMed Central Ltd.

Article  Google Scholar 

Berger AA, Liu Y, Nguyen J, Spraggins R, Reed DS, Lee C, et al. Efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2021;13:1–14.

Article  Google Scholar 

Zhang X, Chen H, Xu W, Song Y, Gu Y, Ni G. Acupuncture therapy for fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Pain Res Dove. 2019;12:527–42 Medical Press Ltd.

Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Smith CA, Collins CT, Levett KM, Armour M, Dahlen HG, Tan AL, et al. Acupuncture or acupressure for pain management during labour. Cochrane database Syst Rev. 2020;2:CD009232.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Gönenç IM, Terzioğlu F. Effects of massage and acupressure on relieving labor pain, reducing labor time, and increasing delivery satisfaction. J Nurs Res. 2020;28: e68.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Nesheim BI, Kinge R, Berg B, Alfredsson B, Allgot E, Hove G, et al. Acupuncture during labor can reduce the use of meperidine: A controlled clinical study. Clin J Pain. 2003;19:187–91.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Skilnand E, Fossen D, Heiberg E. Acupuncture in the management of pain in labor. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2002;81:943–8.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Lai C, Wong MKW, Tong W, Chu S, Lau K, Tam AML, et al. Effectiveness of a childbirth massage programme for labour pain relief in nulliparous pregnant women at term: a randomised controlled trial. Hong Kong Med J. 2021;27:405–12.

CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

• Zamora-Brito M, Fernández-Jané C, Pérez-Guervós R, Solans-Oliva R, Arranz-Betegón A, Palacio M. The role of acupuncture in the present approach to labor induction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2024;6(2):101272. A meta-analsyis reviewing acupuncture role in labor induction; a model for high quality evidence reviewing CAM approaches to labor analgesia.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Nanji JA, Carvalho B. Pain management during labor and vaginal birth. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2020;67:100–12 Elsevier Ltd.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Likis FE, Andrews JC, Collins MR, Lewis RM, Seroogy JJ, Starr SA, et al. Nitrous oxide for the management of labor pain. Anesth Analg. 2014;118:153–67.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Collins MR, Starr SA, Bishop JT, Baysinger CL. Nitrous oxide for labor analgesia: expanding analgesic options for women in the United States. Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2012;5:e126–31.

PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Zuarez-Easton S, Zafran N, Garmi G, Dagilayske D, Inbar S, Salim R. Meperidine compared with nitrous oxide for intrapartum pain relief in multiparous patients. Obstet Gynecol. 2023;141:4–10.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Sutton CD, Butwick AJ, Riley ET, Carvalho B. Nitrous oxide for labor analgesia: Utilization and predictors of conversion to neuraxial analgesia. J Clin Anesth. 2017;40:40–5 Elsevier Inc.

Article  CAS  PubMed