Open AccessThe intensity of labor pain in grand multiparas
Author(s) -
Ranta P.,
Jouppila P.,
Jouppila R.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349609047096
Subject(s) - medicine , labor pain , intensity (physics) , analgesic , stage (stratigraphy) , obstetrics , pregnancy , anesthesia , gynecology , paleontology , genetics , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Background The purpose of the current study was to investigate differences in pain experiences and requirements for pain control in parturients with different birth experience. Previous studies have shown that the labor pain experience is significantly less intense in multiparas than in primiparas and requirements for analgesic treatment have therefore been assumed to be minimal in this group. Methods The pain experience during labor was assessed by 70 consecutive grand multiparas (a minimum of five previous deliveries) compared to that of primiparous ( n = 70) and II‐V parous women ( n = 70). Pain intensity was repeatedly assessed on a pain intensity scale (0‐10) according to the progress of cervical dilatation at the first and second stage of labor. Results. During the latent phase of cervical dilatation (0 to 3 cm) grand multiparas had a median pain score of 3 compared to 4 in II‐V paras and 6 in primiparas ( p < 0.001). At the end of the first stage and during the second stage the intensity of pain in grand multiparas was significantly higher compared to that in primiparas (median scores 7 to 8 vs 6 to 7, p < 0.05). Epidural blocks were administered to 40% of primiparas, 3% of II‐V paras and to no grand multiparas ( p < 0.0001). Twenty‐one percent of grand multiparas rated their pain as intolerable (pain scores 9 to 10) during the second stage compared to 10% of primiparas ( p < 0.05). On the third day after delivery. 47% of grand multiparas regarded their analgesia insufficient. Conclusions The majority of parturients, including grand multiparas, suffered from intense pain during labor. After delivery, a significant number of grand multiparas felt that they had received insufficient pain relief.