RESUMO
An enquiry was carried out by sending 368 women a double questionnaire at the eighth month of pregnancy and after delivery, in order to assess their opinions and motivations as far as epidural anaesthetic was concerned, and how far their expectations had been fulfilled. One hundred forms were returned. The sample was: 64% primipara and 36% multipara, of whom 64 women were married, 27 living in a stable relationship and 9 living on their own. 85% had a profession and 52% were in a higher social category. Eighty two of the women asked for an epidural in order to: in 58% of cases participate in their delivery, and in 31% of cases bond with the child. 57% hoped for less pain rather than for complete absence of pain which was asked for in 43%. Of the 36 multipara, 34 asked for epidural analgesia. Those who refused to have an epidural thought that they would be able to live through the delivery in a more natural way (44%) and 52% thought the process had become too medicalized and that complications of a medical nature might supervene. 33% gave no reason for refusing. This group contained more primipara (16) than multipara (2). These primipara thought that epidural analgesia would stop them taking part in the delivery and 10 of these knew that they would have pain in the delivery. Post partum replies showed that 58% had a higher opinion of epidural after than before the delivery and 93% were highly satisfied with the analgesia that they received. This despite the fact that the techniques were not perfect. Seven women thought the procedure unsatisfactory although there were no technical faults but the enquiry showed that they expected more from epidural analgesia. Whether they were satisfied or not, 98% of the women said that they would ask for epidurals in subsequent deliveries.
