2. INTRODUCTION
Pain is said to be ‘a feeling of distress, suffering or
agony caused by simulation of specialized nerve
endings. Pain management is of two types. They
are:
Pharmacological
Non- pharmacological
3. NON- PHARMACOLOGICAL
Continuous labour support
Hydrotherapy
Intradermal water blocks
Movement and positioning
Touch and massage
Acupuncture
Hypnosis
TENS
Aromatherapy
Heat and cold
Childbirth education
Self help techniques- breathing and relaxation
Music and audio analgesia.
4. CONTINUOUS LABOUR SUPPORT
It includes
continuous presence
emotional support(reassurance, encouragement &
guidance)
Physical comforting(touch, massage, heat & cold,
positioning movement)
Information and guidance
Facilitation of communication
5. BATHS IN LABOUR
Use of water requires special equipment in the form
of bath tubs.
Practical and safety consideration
Water temperature to be at body temperature
Labour progress can be slowed if the woman enters the
bath tub before active labour or stays in for more than 1
or 2 hours.
6. INTRADERMAL WATER BLOCKS
It consist of 4 intradermal injections of 0.05 to 0.1
ml sterile water using a 1 ml syringe with a 25
gauge needle to form 4 blebs, one over each
posterior superior iliac spine and two others placed
3 cms below and 1 cm medial to each of the first
sites.
The injection stings acutely for 20-30 seconds, but
as the stinging fades, the back pain fades.
The water blocks can be repeated as desired.
7. TOUCH AND MASSAGE
Touching another human being can communicate
positive messages such as caring, concern,
reassurance, or love.
Massage, “the intentional and systematic
manipulation of the soft tissues of the body to
enhance health and healing is used during labour to
enhance relaxation and reduce pain and suffering.
8. ACCUPUNCTURE & ACCUPRESSURE
It is used for numerous ailments and discomforts in
pregnancy, as well as for labour pain.
As acupressure ca be done with minimal instruction
by the woman’s partner, it may be desired by some
labouring women.
9. HYPNOSIS
Hypnosis is “a state of deep
physical relaxation with an
alert mind producing alpha
waves, and it is in this state
that critical faculties are
suspended and the
subconscious mind can be
more readily accessed.
Hypnosis for child birth is
almost always self-hypnosis,
in other words, the
hypnotherapist teaches the
woman to induce the hypnotic
state in herself during labour.
The partner is also taught to
signal her into hypnotic state.
10. HYPNOSIS
Common hypnotic pain relief techniques are “glove
anaesthesia” in which the woman imagines that her
hand is numb and that it can spread numbness to
other areas by placing her hand on painful areas.
“Time distortion” which enables the woman to
perceive the time between painful contractions as
longer and the painful period as shorter than it
really is.
“imaginative transformation” in which the pain is
interpreted as benign and acceptable, and
contraction are seen as surges of energy that
cause only a light pressure sensation.
11. TENS
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is the
transmission of low voltage electrical impulses from
a hand held battery- powered generator to the skin
through surface electrodes.
To relieve labour pain, one pair of electrode is
placed paravertebrally at the level of T10-L1 and
another at the level of S2 to S4.
12. TENS
The woman controls the intensity of the current by
turning a dial and varies the stimulation pattern with a
thumb witch or by adjusting dials on her TENS unit.
TENS causes a buzzing or prickling sensation that
may reduce her awareness of contraction pain.
13. AROMATHERAPY
It is “the science of using highly concentrated
essential oils or essences distilled from plants in
order to utilize their therapeutic properties.
14. HEAT AND COLD
Heat is typically applied to the woman’s back lower
abdomen, groin and or perineum.
Heat source include hot water bottle, warm
compress, warm blanket, warm bath or shower.
15. HEAT AND COLD
Cold or cryotherapy is usually applied on woman’s
back, chest and or face during labour.
Forms of cold include a bag or surgical glove filled
with ice, frozen gel pack, bottle filled wit ice.
Cold application is contraindicated in case of
hypersensitivity, hypertension, Raynaud’s
phenomena.
16. HEAT AND COLD
Because a women can tolerate more extreme
temperatures during labour than usual, partners or
caregivers should test the temperature of the hot or
cold pack first on themselves.
If they ca comfortably tolerate hot or cold pack
pressing on their forearm for several seconds, then
it is safe to apply it t the mother with intact
sensation.
17. CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION
It consist of individual or group classes designed to
inform pregnant women and their partners about
labour and birth, early parenthood and infant feeing.
18. RELAXATION AND BREATHING
Most childbirth education classes present relaxation
techniques along with a variety of rhythmic
breathing patterns intended to promote relaxation
or to provide distraction from labour pain.
They are used to enhance a woman’s sense off
control.
19. MUSIC & AUDIO ANALESIA
It is the use of auditory stimulation such as music,
white noise or environmental sounds to decrease
pain perception.
21. INHALATION METHODS
Nitrous oxide and air
Premixed nitrous oxide and oxygen
Trichlorethylene(Trilene)
Methoxyflurne, Isofluane, Enflurane.
22. REGIONAL ANALGESIA
More women are now requesting a pain- free labour
and ask for epidural analgesia as soon as labour is
established.
The pain relief from epidural is obtained by blocking
the conduction of impulses along sensory nerves as
they enter the spinal cord.
23. ADVANTAGES
Effective pain relief
Tendency of lowering blood pressure can be an
advantage in PIH
If labour is prolonged, gives effective pain relief
allowing mother to rest
Does not depress the respiratory centre of the fetus
24. DISADVANTAGES
Ineffective blocks
More frequent monitoring of vital signs
Lengthens first stage of labour
Less able to adopt different birth positions
Less sensation of expulsive efforts and lengthens
second stage of labour ; increase in instrumental
vaginal delivery.