Effect of heat application on labor pain

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of heat application as one of the cutaneous stimulation techniques on the intensity of labor pain. Two groups of 30 women each, who were in active labor with severe low back pain were asked to respond to a visual analogue scale starting from zero [no pain] to 10 [endurable pain]. Two types of treatment were applied, hot water bag and placebo [saline pack]. Labor progression and the required analgesic were recorded during three-hour period before any of the treatment was applied and during the two subsequent hours. Results indicated that women in the placebo group need more analgesia than the hot water bag group. The rate of C/S and instrument-assisted deliveries was higher in the placebo group than in the hot water bag group. More women in the hot water bag group planned to use hot water bag in future deliveries