Analgesia and anaesthesia in labour

Cultural influence on the expression of labour-associated pain

Background

Every woman expresses pain differently during birth since it depends on a multitude of predictive factors. The medical care received, companionship during birth, cultural background and language barriers of the women in labour can influence on the expression of pain. This study aims to evaluate the expression of pain during birth and its associated factors in women treated in a Spanish border town.

Methods

The study included 246 women in labour. The expression of pain during labour was evaluated using the validated ESVADOPA scale. A descriptive analysis and association study were performed between cultural identity and dimensions of the scale. Multiple linear regression models were performed to assess the association between cultural identity, origin, language barrier, and companionship during labour.

Results

The women included in the study comprised 68.7% Berbers, 71.5% Muslims and 82.1% were accompanied during labour. An association between cultural identity and greater body expression of pain (p = 0.020; Cramer’s V = 0.163) in addition to its verbal expression was found during the latent phase of labour, (p = 0.028; Cramer’s V = 0.159). During the active phase of labour, cultural identity was associated with pain expression through greater body response, verbal expression, expression of the facial muscles, anxiety, inability to relax and vegetative symptoms. The different factors studied that had a predictive value were companionship (p = 0.027) during the latent phase of labour and Berber origin (p = 0.000), language barrier (p = 0.014) and companionship (p = 0.005) during the active phase of labour. The models designed predict pain expression in the latent phase by companionship and type of companionship (β = 1.483; 95%CI = 0.459–2.506, β = 0.238; 95%CI = 0.029–0. 448, respectively), and in the active phase by background, language barrier and companionship (β = 0.728; 95%CI = 0.258–1.198, β = 0.738; 95%CI = 0.150–1.326, β = 1.888; 95%CI = 0.984–2.791, respectively).

Conclusion

Culture, origin, language barrier and companionship during labour influences the manner in which women in labour express their pain. An understanding of this may help midwives correctly interpret the signs of pain expression and be able to offer the appropriate assistance depending on a woman's particular characteristics. There is a clear need for new models of maternity care that will take the cultural and language characteristics of women in labour into consideration.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-05173-1.

Effectiveness of Cold Pack Application on Reduction of Pain Perception during Active Phase of Labour among Parturient Mothers

Pregnancy is the period of gestation from the fertilization of an egg, through development of a fetus, and ending at birth of the baby. A woman’s desire for, and cold pack of, pain relief during labour are influenced by many factors, including her expectations, the complexity of her labour and the severity of her pain. Objectives: To assess the pre-test and post-test level of pain perception during active phase of labour among parturient mothers both in experimental and control group, effectiveness of cold pack on reduction of pain perception during active phase of labour among parturient mothers in the experimental group, association between the level of pain perception during active phase of labour among parturient mothers with their selected demographic variables. Methods: An experimental research design was adopted for the study with 60 samples who met the inclusion criteria were selected by purposive sampling technique. Semi structured interview method was used to collect the demographical and obstetrical data, Wong Baker Scale tool was used to measure the level of pain. Result: The study shows that there is a significant difference between the posttest levels of pain perception during active phase of labour among parturient mothers in the experimental group than in the control group. Conclusion: There was a significant association in the post test level of pain perception among parturient mother in the experimental group than in the control group at p<0.01 and p<0.001 level. Thus the cold pack application is an effective non-pharmacological method which can be used to manage the level of pain perception during labour.

Knowledge, and use of labour pain relief methods and associated factors among obstetric caregivers at public health centers of East Gojjam zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia: a facility based cross- sectional study

Background

The study was conducted in public health centers of East Gojjam Zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, and use of labour pain relief methods and associated factors among obstetric caregivers in the study setting.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March 1–30, 2018. The study was conducted among three hundred and nine sampled obstetric caregivers. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The data were entered into Epi-data version 4.2 Software for cleaning and exported to SPSS version 23.0 for data analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was carried out for variables with a p-value < 0.25 in bivariate logistic regression to determine significant relationships between the dependent and independent variables. Statistical significance was determined at 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value below 0.05.

Result

The overall use of labour pain relief methods reported was 34.4%, (30.4% non-pharmacological and 8.4 pharmacological, respectively). More than half of the study participants (54.2%) had adequate knowledge about labour pain relief methods. In multivariate analysis, being a midwifery profession [AOR =2.814, 95% CI = (1.574–5.031)], having positive attitude [AOR = 4.370, 95% CI = (2.523–7.567)], and professionals with a medium level of education [AOR = 3.450, 95% CI = (1.993–5.971)] were factors significantly associated with knowledge of obstetric caregivers about labour pain relief methods. In multivariate analysis, knowledge of obstetric caregivers [AOR = 3.821, 95% CI = (2.091–6.980)], positive attitude of obstetric caregivers [AOR = 2.455, 95% CI = ((1.358–4.436))] and experience of obstetric caregivers [AOR = 2.56, 95% CI = (1.350–4.845) were factors significantly associated with the use of labour pain relief methods.

Conclusion

In this study, the overall use of labour pain relief methods by obstetric caregivers was low. Systemic opioid (Pethdine) was reportedly one of the most known pharmacological pain relief methods in this study. Providers’ knowledge, attitude and work experience had shown statistical significance with the use of labour pain relief methods. Task-oriented in- service training is required to fortify obstetric caregivers’ knowledge and attitude towards the use of labour pain relief methods.

Pain Relief Effect of Cryotherapy in Parturients

INTRODUCTION: Pain in childbirth and strategies for relieving it have been a subject of interest to researchers for many years. The use of cold (cryotherapy), as a pain relief technique generally, is quite well known and studied. However, few studies have addressed the use of cryotherapy as a strategy for relieving the pain of childbirth.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of cryotherapy in relieving childbirth pain.

METHOD: Pilot intervention study using prospective data in a single intervention group, the outcome being the pain relief in women in labor. The sample comprised 36 parturients at the Hospital Maternidade Carmela Dutra, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Cryotherapy was applied to the parturients’ thoracolumbar region at cervical dilation of 5, 7, and/or 9 cm, using an icepack belt. In all, 48 applications were made. The responses regarding the action of cryotherapy on pain were recorded on a specific form. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) was used. Following a form, the parturients’ behavior during the application of cryotherapy was also observed.

RESULTS: It was found that 91.67% (outcome) of the women reported pain relief and better conditions in which to experience childbirth. The behavior of 75% of the women in labor was calm and participatory; some slept (5.56%), others took short naps (19.44%).

CONCLUSION: Cryotherapy proved effective in relieving pain in childbirth. Because characteristically, cryotherapy does not interfere in the physiological process of childbirth, it can be used in care for women in labor.

The influence of cold pack on labour pain relief and birth outcomes: a randomised controlled trial

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

(1) To evaluate the influence of local cold on severity of labour pain and (2) to identify the effect of local cold on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Fear of labour pain results in an increase in pain and duration of labour, maternal discontent and demand for caesarean section. Regarding maternal and foetal complications of analgesic medications, the attention to application of nonpharmacological methods including cold therapy is increased.

DESIGN

Randomised controlled trial.

METHODS

Sixty-four pregnant women, at initiation of active phase of labour, were allocated randomly to cold therapy and control groups (n = 64). Null parity, term pregnancy, presence of single foetus, cephalic presentation and completing informed consent were considered as inclusion criteria. Administration of analgesic and anaesthesia, foetal distress, skin lesions in regions of cold therapy and high-risk pregnancy provided exclusion criteria. Cold pack was applied over abdomen and back, for 10 minutes every 30 minutes during first phase of labour. Additionally, cold pack was placed over perineum, for 5 minutes every 15 minutes during second phase. Pain severity was assessed based on the visual analogue scale.

RESULTS

The two groups were not significantly different considering demographic data, gestational age, foetal weight, rupture of membranes and primary severity of pain. Degree of pain was lower in cold therapy group during all parts of active phase and second stage. Duration of all phases was shorter in cold therapy group in all phases. Foetal heart rate, perineal laceration, type of birth, application of oxytocin and APGAR score were not significantly different between two groups.

CONCLUSION

Labour pain is probably reduced based on gate theory using cold. Pain control by cold maybe improves labour progression without affecting mother and foetus adversely.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Local cold therapy could be included in labour pain management.