Purpose: to evaluate if the nipple stimulation performed by primigravidae, at 40 weeks, modifies Bishop index. Method: 64 primigravidae, without clinical or obstetrical complications were studied, in two groups. One group, called nipple stimulation group (N.S.G.) had 29 pregnant women. The other, named control group (C.G.) included 35 pregnant women. The N.S.G. performed the nipple stimulation test, bilaterally, from left to right, for two minutes followed by five minutes of rest, during thirty minutes. The test was done three times a day up to 41 weeks of pregnancy or beginning of labor. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using Student's t test, with 5 % significance. Results: once nipple stimulation was completed in the N.S.G., it was compared with the C.G. considering time of delivery. The results showed no significant differences between the groups regarding cervix modification, according to the Bishop index. Conclusions: there were no differences of the Bishop index in primigravidae, with more than 40 weeks of pregnancy, who performed nipple stimulation test, when compared with pregnant women of the control group.
Nipple stimulation; Labor induction; Pregnancy
