Investigating the impact of acupressure on pregnancy nausea and vomiting (A systematic review)

Abstract

Introduction: Nausea is the mental sensation implying the body's need for vomiting; vomiting, in turn, can be defined as the withdrawal of the content of the upper gastrointestinal tract as a result of contractions of the digestive tract and the walls of the chest and abdomen.Nausea and vomiting can be caused by intra-and extra-peritoneal disorders, medications, endocrine disrupters, metabolic and toxins. One of the causes of nausea and vomiting is pregnancy. During 4 to 7 weeks after LMP (Last menstrual period), nausea and vomiting are seen in 80% of pregnant women; these disorders are, generally, resolved at 20 weeks of pregnancy. Result: Gastrointestinal disorders are the most common complications during pregnancy; about 20% of pregnant women are looking for medical services due to the severity of such complications, the most common of which are nausea and vomiting. This disorder is experienced by more than 85% of pregnant women, but its severity varies from person to person. The cause of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy remains somewhat unknown, but there is a broad consensus that the main cause might be multifactorial, include hormone agents (human gonadotropin hormone, estrogen, progesterone, adrenal and pituitary hormones),gastrointestinal movements, increased saliva, Increased sensitivity to odors, low blood sugar, vitamin B6 deficiency and psychosocial factors. Conclusion: Based on the results of various studies, P6, KID21, and K-K9 points are shown to have positive impact in the reduction of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and in other diseases. Given the high prevalence of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women and possible complications for the mother, the embryo and even the newborns with mothers suffering from nausea and vomiting of pregnancy on one hand and the ease of application and the availability of interventional acupressure for nurses and caregivers on the other hand, it is highly recommended to prepare required training programs in order to instruct acupressure to pregnant women.