LABOUR PAIN MANAGEMENT

Labour Pain Management

Labour Pain Management

Introduction

Pain anywhere in the body is a subjective and sensory experience. It has physiological, psychological, environmental, emotional and sociocultural angles embedded into it which collectively make the person feel the pain and respond to it. All these factors also have an impact on the response of a woman to labour pain including her ability to handle it and her expectations about labour pain. The labour pain or child birth pain is different from other types of pain in a number of ways. Mostly pain is the initial warning symptom of injury but labour pain is linked to a normal physiological process in the body. In other types of pain, severity of pain is directly proportional to the severity of injury. However during labour the severity of pain increases as the women approaches birth which is considered a desirable and positive outcome. Labour pain follows a predictable pattern once it is established with alternate periods of contractions and relaxations. Because of its predictable nature the women can prepare for it in advance and handle it in a better way in most of the cases. Response to labour pain varies from women to women depending upon their experience and expectations.

Discussion

Principles of Pain Relief during Labour

There is no “Gold Standard” or perfect way to manage labour pain since every woman responds to it uniquely. Research has proved that women usually show better satisfaction during their labour experience when they have a better control on the experience of pain (McCrea & Wright, 1999, 877-84).

During labour pain management, role of attending nurse is of critical importance. Nurse is required to brief the woman about the possible options to overcome the pain and be supportive of the choices which she makes. It is also equally important that the woman experiencing labour pain has got the right to change and go for other available options for pain management procedures at any time before and during labour. It is also important to note that there is rarely a completely pain-free labour despite the availability of a number of options to minimise labour pain. Even during epidural approach the woman usually complains of severe pain before the epidural is administered.

Labour Pain Management Techniques

These techniques can be further subdivided into two main classes: non-pharmacological interventions and pharmacological interventions.

Non-pharmacological Interventions

There are different methods of non-pharmacological pain relief during labour and almost every woman uses one or more of these during labour in addition to pharmacological methods. Some of these procedures have been studied through research and found effective. It is therefore recommended that intervention which works for the woman is usually the best one to apply. Ideally a woman needs combinations of interventions during the entire process of labour.

Water therapy

Water therapy is considered highly effective to enhance relaxation and reduce intensity and severity of labour pain during the initial two hours of its use. Women mostly find this technique very useful and helpful during the distress of labour ...