Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of acupressure on pregnancy related functional constipation inpostpartum women, 40 post- partum primiparous women in 2nd to 6th week, after vaginal delivery with mediolateralepisiotomy participated in this study , they all complained from pregnancy related functional constipation diagnosed by Rome III criteria and confirmed by obstetrician, their ages were ranged from 24 to 35 years, their body mass index (BMI) was ranged from 25.5 to 33kg/ m2,they were randomly divided into 2 groups equal in number, (Group A) (Acupressure group) received acupressure therapy for 45 minutes in addition to30 min of morning walking on fresh air as well as general bowel care advice, (Group B) (Control group) received the same intervention as in (Group A) except for acupressure therapy program. All women in both groupswere evaluated before andafter 6 consecutive days of therapy;both groups recorded a statistical significant improvement in Patient Assessment Constipation- Quality of Life(PAC-QOL), Patient Assessment Constipation-Symptom(PAC-SYM) when compared with their corresponding values measured at pre-treatment. But (Group A) showed more improvement in all variables than (Group B).Finally it can be concluded thatAcupressure and walking with general bowel care advice lead to increase quality of life (QOL) and decrease severity of pregnancy related functional constipation symptoms in postpartum period.

Keywords: Post-Partum Period, Constipation and Acupressure