RESUMO
Background and Aims: Fear of labor pain is a principal factor in pregnant women's tendency for cesarean section. This study was done to investigate the factors that affect quality and intensity of labor pain in order to decrease the rate of elective cesarean sections
Method: a prospective randomized study was performed on 208 parturient women in Maternity ward of afzalipour Hospital by using McGill Pain Questionnaire
Results: Mean age of participants was 25.23+/-5.54 years old. Comparison of intensity and quality of pain between stage I and Stage II of labor showed higher pain intensity in stage II [P<0.0001]. Nuliparous women reported higher pain intensity during stage II [P=0.002], whereas multiparous women experienced shorter labor [P<0.0001]. In stage II of labor with increase of age, a decrease of labor pain intensity was observed [P<0.001]. There were no significant statistical relationships between labor pain and variables of job, education al level, weight of neonate and number of previous pregnancies in multiparous women. Labor painintensity in women who had prenatal care in obstetrician's clinics was lower than others
Conclusion: Lower intensity of labor pain in women who had prenatal care in obstetrician's clinics emphasizes on the role of obstetricians in recommending vaginal delivery to pregnant women as a physiologic phenomenon