Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Sep-Oct;69(5):681-688.
doi: 10.1111/jmwh.13625. Epub 2024 Mar 12.

The Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Applied in the Early Postpartum Period After Cesarean Birth on Healing, Pain, and Comfort

Esra Sabancı Baransel  1 , Sümeyye Barut  2 , Tuba Uçar  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Applied in the Early Postpartum Period After Cesarean Birth on Healing, Pain, and Comfort

Esra Sabancı Baransel et al. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2024 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Introduction: This study was conducted to determine the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) applied in the early postpartum period after cesarean birth on incision site healing, postoperative recovery, pain, and comfort.

Methods: This randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted with 138 women (TENS group n = 46, placebo group n = 46, control group n = 46) who gave birth by cesarean between January and September 2023. TENS was applied twice at a frequency of 100 Hz with a pulse width of 100 microseconds, at 10 to 12 and 14 to 16 hours after birth, for 30 minutes each. Outcomes were measured with the Postoperative Recovery Index; Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, and Approximation Scale; Visual Analogue Scale; and Postpartum Comfort Questionnaire. Outcomes between groups were compared postintervention, correcting for baseline using analysis of covariance. The study was registered at www.

Clinicaltrials: gov (NCT05991921).

Results: Mean scores for postoperative recovery were significantly lower (improved) in the TENS group (113.58) compared with the placebo and control groups (134.67, 136.61; P < .001). The postoperative recovery subscales (psychological symptoms, physical activities, appetite symptoms, bowel symptoms, general symptoms) were also significantly decreased in the TENS group compared with the placebo and control groups. Similarly, mean scores for postpartum comfort, and the corresponding physical comfort, psychospiritual comfort, and sociocultural comfort subscales, were significantly improved in the TENS group (110.26) compared with the placebo and control group (83.80, 81.19; P < .05).

Discussion: TENS application can be preferred as an alternative method to increase pain control, recovery, and patient comfort after cesarean birth.

Keywords: TENS; cesarean birth; comfort; incision site healing; pain; postoperative recovery; postpartum.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

REFERENCES

    1. Emine K, Apay SE. Doğum şekli: doğum sonu konfor ve doğumdan memnuniyet düzeylerini etkiler mi? İnönü Üniversitesi Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksek Okulu Dergisi. 2020;8(3):547‐565.
    1. Kurnaz D, Hazar HU. Erken postpartum dönemde annelerin emzirmeye ilişkin tutum ve başarılarını etkileyen faktörler. Hemşirelik Bilimi Dergisi. 2021;4(2):76‐86.
    1. Demirbaş M, Karabel MP, İnci MB. Türkiye'de ve Dünya'da değişen sezaryen sıklığı ve olası nedenleri. Sakarya Tıp Dergisi. 2018;7(4):158‐163.
    1. Balcı EG. Sezaryen doğumlarda uygulanan anestezi yöntemlerinin, annenin ve yenidoğanın doğum sonu dönem konforuna ve uyumuna etkileri. Hemşirelik Bilimi Dergisi. 2020;3(3):1‐8.
    1. Duman FN, Gölbaşı Z. Artan sezaryen doğum oraninin anne‐bebek sağliği üzerine etkileri ve sezaryen doğumlarin azaltilmasina yönelik stratejiler. Turkish J Fam Med Primary Care. 2023;17(1):188‐194.

Publication types

Associated data