Sterile water for pain relief in labour why not?

ABSTRACT

Ninety pregnant women were included in this study and randomly assigned to one of three groups Group one received four injections of 0.5 mL sterile water intracutaneously [number = 30], group two received four injections of 0.5 mL sterile water subcutaneously [number = 30] and group three received four injections of 0.5 mL isotonic saline subcutaneously [number = 30]. The injections were given [Michaelis, rhomboid] during contraction, while the woman simultaneously breathed nitrous oxide and oxygen. Labor pain was measured by visual analogue scale [VAS] pain score just before injection and 2, 10, 45 and 90 minutes after treatment. The median VAS pain score for labor pain was significantly lower compared with initial values in the two active groups and compared with saline at 10 and 45 minutes after treatment. No significant differences in analgesic effect or pain experienced during administration were found between the two active groups. The new subcutaneous method of administering sterile water as well as the earlier described intracutaneous injection method were effective for the relief of pain in labor